I managed to watch the DVD of Emilio Estevez's Bobby at the weekend. I found it to be a thoroughly absorbing and enjoyable film. One of the questions which the film attempts to answer is "why was Boby Kennedy so loved, particularly across the racial divides in America?"
With the characters of the humble Mexican busboy (based on the young man who actually cradled RFK's head after he was shot) played by Freddy Rodirguez and the campaign volunteer played by Nick Cannon, the film attempts to explain the love felt towards Bobby.
However, for me, the movie spends too much time on two campaign volunteers who spent the day of the assasination at the Ambassador Hotel getting stoned, when it could have spent that time more usefully in further exploring why Bobby Kennedy inspired so many.
Having said that, it is an excellent film, a truly moving film which is a joy to watch. Any film with Anthony Hopkins, Harry Belafonte and Martin Sheen in it (plus an army of other highly notable actors) would have to be subjected to an almighty directorial mess-up not to be delightful - and there is no mess-up here. I particularly found the weaving of contemporary footage of Bobby Kennedy to be inspired. Apart from someone playing his back, there is no attempt to have an actor playing Bobby Kennedy. That makes the film exteremly powerful, in my view.
With the characters of the humble Mexican busboy (based on the young man who actually cradled RFK's head after he was shot) played by Freddy Rodirguez and the campaign volunteer played by Nick Cannon, the film attempts to explain the love felt towards Bobby.
However, for me, the movie spends too much time on two campaign volunteers who spent the day of the assasination at the Ambassador Hotel getting stoned, when it could have spent that time more usefully in further exploring why Bobby Kennedy inspired so many.
Having said that, it is an excellent film, a truly moving film which is a joy to watch. Any film with Anthony Hopkins, Harry Belafonte and Martin Sheen in it (plus an army of other highly notable actors) would have to be subjected to an almighty directorial mess-up not to be delightful - and there is no mess-up here. I particularly found the weaving of contemporary footage of Bobby Kennedy to be inspired. Apart from someone playing his back, there is no attempt to have an actor playing Bobby Kennedy. That makes the film exteremly powerful, in my view.
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