Bobby

The untimely death of Senator Robert Kennedy during his presidential campaign is a story that touched Emilio Estevez since his childhood. Now, after years in the making, we finally see the fruits of his labour and he has laid up a feast.

With one of the biggest all-star casts that I have ever seen in one film, Bobby re-imagines one of the most explosively tragic nights in American history. By following the stories of 22 fictional characters in the Ambassador Hotel on the fateful eve that Bobby Kennedy was shot, Estevez and his cast forge an intimate mosaic of an America careening towards a moment of shattering change. The different characters navigate prejudice, injustice, chaos and their own complicated personal lives, while seeking the last glimmering signs of hope in Kennedy’s idealism. In exploring the diverse experiences of ordinary people, the film celebrates the spirit of an extraordinary man and servers as a snapshot of an emblematic time in history.

The accomplished ensemble cast are a huge part of the movie and, while they are all effectively cameos, they are great ones. Other than Ashton Kutcher’s portrayal of a hippy, everyone is on fine form. Sir Anthony Hopkins and Harry Belafonte are, as ever, superb as two retired doorman who can’t bring themselves to leave their hotel. Their chess-playing scenes of reminiscence are wonderful. Estevez’s father Martin Sheen played his role as a depressed East Coast socialite very well alongside a solid performance from Helen Hunt as his wife.

Each role is extremely well written and symbolic of the time. It is hard to pick out an ‘outstanding’ role out of so many great performances but Freddy Rodriguez as the young Latino bus boy deserves a special mention.

The stars are central to the film’s success but they often detract from the message. The opening montage is star-studded and literally like watching the red carpet on Oscar night. In one scene, I just gaped in amazement at the fact that Sharon Stone was brushing Demi Moore’s hair. It was one of those special moments in film that are so surreal that you have a sense of disbelief while watching it.

The script is first-rate and complimented by an excellent story. While acknowledging Bobby Kennedy as a special man, Estevez is right to focus on the ordinary people who were implicated by the tragedy.

Everything about this film was spot-on. The score, the cinematography and editing was all faultless. If this film is to go by, Estevez has a very promising future as a writer/director and will definitely be in the mix come Oscar time.

However, the strongest aspect of the film is the message that it gives. This film shows Bobby Kennedy as a man who saw wrong and tried to right it, a man who saw suffering and tried to heal and a man who saw war and tried to stop it. The fact that we don’t have a candidate like that in a world in which war is so prevalent rings true to so many.

Bobby is a stunning success.

Last edited: 28th May 2008