Interview With The Assassin - Review - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

WeevilMan · 06-26-2005, 07:42 AM

As i often do with films that deal with conspiracy theories, or romanticise the nature of global politics, i found myself glancing furtively over my shoulder after seeing this film.

On 22nd of nov 1963, President John F Kennedy was shot in the head whilst riding in a motorcade in Dallas, Texas. This much we know. what we are also painfully aware of is the seemingly infinite volume of conspiracy theories that have taken rise since that day. Stories abound, from a second gunman on the 'grassy knoll' to anti-castro assasins hiring former CIA agents to take the hit.
Although we are far removed in both geography and chronology, the ramifications of that event continue to influence literature and art. it is the fascination with the illicit, the mysterious. The romanticism of a Bond-like spy theory, as well the innate cynicism in an era where ignorance is applauded, and all our entertainment tells us is that we simply aren't good looking or thin enough, so we need some metrosexuals wearing lamé ties for belts to 'kich' and 'Zhooz' us up.
Regardless of its etymoligies, the Kennedy Assasination has spurned so much 'debate' ( i use the term loosely, for as well as being greatly disputed it is also notoriouslt one sided in its exposition) that one could reasonably assume that train decidedly out of fuel.
Not so.

Enter Neil Burger, and INTERVIEW WITH THE ASSASIN.
When this film opened, i felt a sense of curiosity. it opens on a suburban street, laughing children and green lawns. A voice over intones the events prior to this moment. it seems we are going to be spoon fed this story. (ugh!).

the entire film felt as if it were slowly creeping toward a climax, a twist ending, or at least some kind of conclusion. but in a sense it plateaued and never regained any interest. the dichotomy of making films as documentaries is that documentaries are interesting because they are REAL. take away that element, and you have yourself a very difficult way to tell a story. in a way, this film felt like the ever encroaching dillema of style VS substance personified. perhaps it is easy to find fault with a film, or perhaps i was expecting too much. the film asked me to take a great many leaps of faith to follow in its pursuit of realism, and in the end, it totally failed to deliver anything worthy of that investment. needless to say i cursed when the dreaded white title cards came up illustrating the events subsequent to the film. events not shown because it would break the stylistic rules established (and conveniently broken, OFTEN) throughout the piece. if this were a piece dealing with less established subject matter, perhaps they may have been more successful. but dealing with the KEnnedy assasination is like walking thorugh a heavily trampled field in search of an unspoilt patch of grass. it. dont. happen.

06-26-2005, 07:42 AM	#1 (permalink)
WeevilMan Upright	Interview With The Assassin - Review As i often do with films that deal with conspiracy theories, or romanticise the nature of global politics, i found myself glancing furtively over my shoulder after seeing this film. On 22nd of nov 1963, President John F Kennedy was shot in the head whilst riding in a motorcade in Dallas, Texas. This much we know. what we are also painfully aware of is the seemingly infinite volume of conspiracy theories that have taken rise since that day. Stories abound, from a second gunman on the 'grassy knoll' to anti-castro assasins hiring former CIA agents to take the hit. Although we are far removed in both geography and chronology, the ramifications of that event continue to influence literature and art. it is the fascination with the illicit, the mysterious. The romanticism of a Bond-like spy theory, as well the innate cynicism in an era where ignorance is applauded, and all our entertainment tells us is that we simply aren't good looking or thin enough, so we need some metrosexuals wearing lamé ties for belts to 'kich' and 'Zhooz' us up. Regardless of its etymoligies, the Kennedy Assasination has spurned so much 'debate' ( i use the term loosely, for as well as being greatly disputed it is also notoriouslt one sided in its exposition) that one could reasonably assume that train decidedly out of fuel. Not so. Enter Neil Burger, and INTERVIEW WITH THE ASSASIN. When this film opened, i felt a sense of curiosity. it opens on a suburban street, laughing children and green lawns. A voice over intones the events prior to this moment. it seems we are going to be spoon fed this story. (ugh!). the entire film felt as if it were slowly creeping toward a climax, a twist ending, or at least some kind of conclusion. but in a sense it plateaued and never regained any interest. the dichotomy of making films as documentaries is that documentaries are interesting because they are REAL. take away that element, and you have yourself a very difficult way to tell a story. in a way, this film felt like the ever encroaching dillema of style VS substance personified. perhaps it is easy to find fault with a film, or perhaps i was expecting too much. the film asked me to take a great many leaps of faith to follow in its pursuit of realism, and in the end, it totally failed to deliver anything worthy of that investment. needless to say i cursed when the dreaded white title cards came up illustrating the events subsequent to the film. events not shown because it would break the stylistic rules established (and conveniently broken, OFTEN) throughout the piece. if this were a piece dealing with less established subject matter, perhaps they may have been more successful. but dealing with the KEnnedy assasination is like walking thorugh a heavily trampled field in search of an unspoilt patch of grass. it. dont. happen.