Bobby - Preview
Preview by Jack Foley
ONE of the highlights of the forthcoming London Film Festival looks set to be Emilio Estevez’s movie, Bobby.
Having already impressed at festivals including Venice (where it was among the awards contenders), the film marks Estevez out as a very intriguing filmmaker – far removed from the ‘brat pack’ days when he was best known for films such as The Breakfast Club, St Elmos Fire and Young Guns.
What’s more, it ought to banish the memory of his derisory directorial debut Men At Work once and for all!!!
The film boasts a cast to die for, including Anthony Hopkins, Demi Moore, Sharon Stone, Elijah Wood, Lindsay Lohan, William H Macy and Martin Sheen – a feat made all the more remarkable given its relatively low budget costs.
The film uses the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy at 12.15am on June 5, 1968, as its inspiration.
The presidential candidate was targeted while making his way from the ballroom of the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles to give a press conference after winning the California Primary.
But rather than focusing on Kennedy or the assassination itself, Estevez opts to look at the ordinary people who unwittingly found themselves at the centre of one of the most important events in American history.
Hence, Bobby unfolds against the backdrop of the cultural issues gripping the USat the time, such as racism, sexual inequality and class divisions.
As such, hotel staff, campaign workers and supporters and guests get to provide their views while congregating at the hotel in anticipation of the Kennedy celebration.
According to the LFF’s Sandra Hebron “it is the women who really shine, particularly Helen Hunt, Sharon Stone and Demi Moore, whose turn as an alcoholic chanteuse on the slide is of career relaunching class”.
She adds: “The film has an impeccable eye and ear for the period, reinforced by the decision to incorporate archive footage of Kennedy on the campaign trail.
“Drawing unavoidable points of comparison with today’s political world, the film reminds us that Bobby Kennedy remains one of history’s great ‘what ifs’, not just for America but for the world at large.”
A Gala screening of Bobby, sponsored by The Times, takes place at the London Film Festival on October 26 at 8.30pm. Make sure you book early!