Rating of
2/4
Parkland...wait for it on VHS
Rich - wrote on 10/08/13
After anxiously awaiting the release of this Hanks/Paxton production, I more anxiously awaited the credits and a drive home. Recounting the immediate wake of the JFK assassination in a remotely coherent and believable fashion proved to be extremely elusive and too much of a challenge for Landesman, in what was obviously his directorial debut. With the exception of a few gripping scenes, this film had no glue and did a disservice to a plot line which was aching to develop and flow, however left this viewer feeling empty, with the exception of stale popcorn. Although docudramas often struggle with character development, in this one it was non-existent. To add insult to injury, the nepotism imposed Colin Hanks' character made me wish I was on the operating table instead of Kennedy.
Perhaps the only few redeeming qualities were Barry Ackroyd's fine cinematography work, Paul Giamatti's portrayal of Abraham Zapruder and especially James Badge Dale's Robert Oswald - the only character who created the poignancy a film like this had the opportunity to rivet endlessly with. Strangely, this film did still manage to draw a few tears - and at the most unlikely of events - Badge's burial of his unhinged brother made one feel the helplessness of a sibling drawn into a history, one wouldn't wish upon their gravest enemy.
