Bobby: A Tribute to Robert F Kennedy
Estevez Recreates Kennedy's Shocking Assassination on June 5,1968
Sep 8, 2008
Announcing his decision to run for presidency in the wake of a recent election success Robert Francis (‘Bobby’) Kennedy embodied the hopes of a nation tired of old policies in the tumultuous late 60s.
The Assassination That Shook A Nation
His shocking assassination on June 5, 1968 is recreated in Estevez’s fictional film Bobby which is based on historical events that took place in the Ambassador Hotel on the night of his murder.
Estevez goes to great lengths to recreate the political mood of the era, opening his film with footage of Bobby Kennedy giving an impassioned speech, intercut with archived footage of protest marches calling for civil rights, women’s rights and an end to the Vietnam war.
An All Star Cast
It is during this particularly turbulent time in American’s history that we glimpse into the lives of people who are either living in or working at the Ambassador Hotel. Amongst others, we meet John (Anthony Hopkins) a retired employee of the hotel, who spends his time playing chess in the foyer with his friend Nelson (Harry Belafonte). Angela (Heather Graham) the hotel telephonist who is having an affair with the General Manager (William H.Macy). The hotel beautician Miriam (Sharon Stone). The racist Timmons (Christian Slater). The alcoholic singing star (Demi Moore) and her long suffering husband (Emilio Estevez). Neurotic Samantha (Helen Hunt) and her kind husband (Martin Sheen). A young couple (Elijah Wood & Lindsay Lohan) who marry to foul enlistment to Vietnam. Two young political lobbyist, (Shia LaBeouf & Brian Geraghty) experimenting with LSD under the guidance of a tripped out hippy (Ashton Kutcher).
To varying degrees, all the characters in the film are affected by the death of Robert Kennedy. Shot point blank in a re-enactment, the film draws to a close as we cut to archived footage of him being put into an ambulance in 1968. The ensuing chaos and confusion is depicted by silent footage set to a stirring speech that laments senseless acts of violence and the degradation of a nation.
A Narrative Interwoven With Archive Footage
This historical film, which at times looks like a documentary, features music from Simon & Garfunkel and original footage of Robert Kennedy winning the candidacy as announced by the legendary CBS presenter Walter Cronkite.
It is not often a film can boast such a huge cast of A List actors. Both written and directed by Emilio Estevez, who also appears in the film, Bobby features an impressive cast of 23 of Hollywoods finest.
A champion of the poor and the disenfranchised, Bobby is a powerful story as well as a moving tribute a remarkable man.
