Bobby (2006)

Director:

Emilio Estevez

Writer (WGA):

Emilio Estevez (written by)

Release Date:

23 November 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

He saw wrong and tried to right it. He saw suffering and tried to heal it. He saw war and tried to stop it.

Plot:

The story of the assassination of U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy who was shot in the early morning hours of June 5, 1968 in the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, and 22 people in the hotel whose lives were never the same.

Plot Keywords:

1968 | Adultery | Male Nudity | Interracial Friendship | Alcoholic

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 3 wins & 11 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sun. July 20	2:30 PM	SHOW
Wed. July 30	7:00 PM	SHOW

Cast

Harry Belafonte	...	Nelson
Joy Bryant	...	Patricia
Nick Cannon	...	Dwayne
Emilio Estevez	...	Tim Fallon
Laurence Fishburne	...	Edward Robinson
Brian Geraghty	...	Jimmy
Heather Graham	...	Angela
Anthony Hopkins	...	John Casey
Helen Hunt	...	Samantha
Joshua Jackson	...	Wade Buckley
David Krumholtz	...	Agent Phil
Ashton Kutcher	...	Fisher
Shia LaBeouf	...	Cooper
Lindsay Lohan	...	Diane
William H. Macy	...	Paul Ebbers

Runtime:

120 min | Italy:112 min (Venice Film Festival) | Canada:112 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Brazil:14 | Singapore:NC-16 | Malaysia:(Banned) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Ireland:15A | Finland:K-11 | Portugal:M/12 | New Zealand:M | Netherlands:12 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Germany:12 | Sweden:7 | USA:R (certificate #43067) | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Ambassador Hotel - 3400 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Weinstein Company, The

Trivia:

The Ambassador Hotel was being torn down as the film crew shot on the property.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: In Samantha's glasses at the pool, you can see very clearly in the reflection the 20x20 white diffusion with crew members either standing or sitting in front of it.

Quotes:

Samantha: I forgot to pack my black shoes. I packed a black dress and a back up dress, but the backup dress also requires black shoes. I don't have them. I forgot to pack my black shoes.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "History in Focus: Bobby" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Spoonful

One of the best of the year

If you're sitting in the back row of a theater, hiding your tears as the credits roll for a movie, you know it delivered the emotional effect it was aiming for. I was lucky enough to catch "Bobby" at the Toronto Film Festival -- its North American premier -- and what I got was an incredibly beautiful story, cinematically gripping to say the least.

Like in all great ensemble movies, "Bobby" offers a stellar cast, none of whom disappoint. From the neurotic and self-conscious character of Samantha (played by Helen Hunt) to the outspoken, confident Edward Robinson (Laurence Fishburne), there is a vast mixture of personalities that work to provide a complex interwoven plot line. But the most notable performance (and the most surprising) is that of Virginia Fallon. Brillianty portrayed by Demi Moore, Virginia is a foul-mouthed, insecure alcoholic who sways around on screen in delicate form, both heartbreaking and beautiful to watch.

Director-writer Emilio Estevez put his heart into this project. The direction is without a doubt highly impressive. The subtle colorful hues reflect the emotional grip of each scene, and extenuate a modern feel to the film. He puts us head-first in the crowd that witnessed the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy, on what would seem to be one of the most heartbreaking moments in American history.

But what really stands out in this movie is not the screenplay, nor directing, nor acting. The emotional intensity is brilliantly brought out through the use of sound. An actual audio footage of RFK is heard in the background as the tense score sways by over the muted dialogue. And what works for this type of film-making is the amount of anticipation it builds up, and even after pivotal scenes, the impact it leaves on the audience.

There is a key scene in the movie in which all the characters prepare to greet RFK when the energy of the entire screen seemingly drips with positivity towards the American society. It's as though we forget the fatal tragedy and give into the thought of this story having a happy ending. We are reminded of classic ensemble films such as "Short Cuts", "Magnolia" and "Crash" and immediately juxtapose that feeling.

Though I do fear that politically this movie may not hit home for a lot of the critics once it hits a wide release, it is definitely going to leave a lasting impression on the majority who sees it. It's a movie that presents a magnificent cast, superb directing, and flawless scriptwriting. An undoubtedly obvious ingredient for the Awards season.