Customer Reviews

RFK

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I first caught this movie on FX when it premiered, and I hoped that more people will see it now that it's on DVD. The movie is concerned with Bobby Kennedy's evolution after his brother's death in 1963, and Linus Roache does a convincing job of playing the late man (He and the actor who played RFK in Thirteen Days are the two best I've seen at this difficult acting job). Being something of a RFK buff, I found this film moving and worth watching. In this time of politicians who cater to the lowest common denominator (on both sides of the aisle), we need to look back on men like Bobby Kennedy, who genuinely cared about the underdogs of American society and was killed in the midst of his greatest act of compassion. One of these days, people will recognize RFK as the best man who was never elected President. This movie is a good start for anyone wondering "what all the fuss was about". I recommend it

This movie is about RFK's life without JFK. Mostly throughout his political career RFK did what was in the best interest of his brother and not himself. He played the cruel, conniving younger brother. However, after November 22, 1963, all that changed. He no longer had anyone to protect and now he had a chance to be himself. This film magnificently shows the "real" Bobby. Not ruthless and devious, but brave and honest. A man who "could get things done." It also shows a sad and tormented Bobby. A man so devestated by his brother's death that he sees visions of him, all the way up to his own assassination. Linus Roache and James Cromwell do a great job portraying RFK and LBJ respectively. Minor characters like Ethel and Ted Kennedy don't seem to be the Kennedys America's come to know, but overall the casting is good and so is the movie.

RFK is a good movie.

the music is good, the story line, and the actors are all awsome.

Mr. Roache played a very good and very convincing Bobby Kennedy who is at a crossroads with the death of his brother, Jack Kennedy.

the movie shows just how distrought Bobby really was and still how much the death of his brother bothered him. The film implies to a good extent that Bobby did in fact feel responsible for his brother's death, and the spirit of JFK tells Bobby that.

I like the views from the spirit of JFK, who only Bobby can see, because it makes Bobby that much more human. He wanted to do good things, he really did. He sought another view, possibly putting an end to the war in Vietnam, he sought to help out poor people, minorities, and fought for values more than for votes.

Bobby really turned over a leaf from attack dog as Attorney General to a really good man who wanted to do good things, but a bullet ended that dream. The ending speech and the train ride footage ends the movie perfectly cause it feels like a metaphor for the life of Bobby Kennedy. He touched and moved so many people in his short 42 years of life, and still today inspires a whole new generation.

great movie on Bobby Kennedy, i only wish there was special features like commentary and stuff like that.

In this screenplay, we see a man so haunted by the (presumably preventable) spectere of his older brother's death that he litterally becomes a whole new person in the aftermath.

The young communist inquisitor who once was friends with Wisconsin Republican Senator Joseph McCarthy (as was JFK)consequently became the devout champion of the underclass. Whether it was minorities, the poor, students or some other group, the 'new' Bobby was sincerely committed to ensuring everybody could (and did) participate in the American dream.

What makes this transformation all the more magical is that a campaign consultant did not make the suggestion (and given how little some of these groups could financially contribute while their association simmutaeneously could have caused big political stigmatization, perhaps attempted to talk him out of these very same actions). It is to RFK's credit that he ultimately stood his own ground and took the road much less traveled in American politics.

Because I came of age in the post-watergate generation, I am accustomed to candidates (regardless of political ideology and/or party) appearing replete with slick demeanor's. The rattling of RFK's psyche following Dallas 1963 ultimately produced a folksy demeanor that even Jimmy Carter ultimately had failed to replicate during his presidential candidate and presidency.

If his own fate were different, Kennedy easily would have become the 20th century's second most influential president---immediately after fellow Democrat Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

A well acted, accurate biopic of Bobby Kennedy following the assassination of his brother, John right up to his own assassination a few years later. See within the tortured soul of RFK trying to get over his brother's death. Well thought out.

With an admiration bordering on reverence, RFK is a made-for-television movie that tracks Robert Kennedy's career from November, 1963 to his own death by assassination in June, 1968. British actor Linus Roache plays Robert F. Kennedy and James Cromwell plays RFK nemesis and, coincidentally President of the United States, Lyndon B. Johnson.

Roache has the hair, the accent, and enough of the charisma to make a convincing RFK. Missing is the sense of the spiritual growth RFK underwent in the five years following his brother's assassination. It's mentioned, of course. At one point Kennedy, after recounting some incidents in his ruthless past, asks an aide "Do you really think I've changed?" Unfortunately, the aide's affirmation stands in stead of the movie showing us the change. Rather, writer Hank Steinberg and director Robert Dornhelm insert the shade of John F. Kennedy (Martin Donovan) into the story, and make him a character who pops in and out throughout the movie to chide, goad, and advise his younger brother. It's a device the story doesn't need. The facts were rich enough in themselves, and the JFK ghost just distracts and pulls us out of the story as well as cause us to question RFK's sanity. Still, from carpeting-bagging senatorial candidate to spearheading a program to rebuild slum neighborhoods in New York City, from meeting with union activist Cesar Chavez to addressing an anti-apartheid crowd in South Africa to a campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination on an anti-war platform, RFK does hit most of the major points of Kennedy's career post 1963.

RFK is an okay if somewhat spotty and superficial political biopic. Towards the end of his life Robert Kennedy had indeed changed, and his growth from ruthless detachment to compassionate liberalism is one of the strangest political odysseys in American political history. If this movie sparks an interest in the runt of the Kennedy clan (it should,) and a trip to the bookshelf to check out a biography (Evan Thomas's Robert Kennedy: His Life is a good place to start,) it's good enough for me to recommend.

I am a Linus Roache fan. He really proves that he earns his fan base in this one as well.

This movie adds real period film footage to add to the grip of the topic of the flick. It deals with Robert's battle to prove himself worthy as his brother President Kennedy. Too bad for the nation he never had his chance to serve as his brother did. I also appreciated the repentence to the war in Vietnam, (I hope we look to the past to learn a lesson about Iraq). It dabbled in his personal life just to add reality. I am a hopeful that one day Martin Luthur King's, and The Kennedy's will be a reality. If not I fear another societal collapse. We still have people living in poverty like the movie deals with greatly.

Our Pledge says, "...and justice for all." This nation still falls very short of our founding fathers dream of equality.

Robert Kennedy was a great man. On a more personal note it will stir any sibling trying to crawl from anothers. I wish Robert Kennedy were with us today. One day people of all colors, all faiths, all nations, straight/gay will be equal. I only hope God will let this happen before we have a meltdown.

Please get this movie, it will stir your passion for Robert Kennedy, and our nation. We are in Iraq fighting a war for Democratic ways, so they tell us. Please, think while watching this movie what kind of face does our country really want the world to see. Are we a nation of, "...do as I say, not as I do!"

To sum it up any fan of The Kennedy's, or Mr. Linus Roache will appreciate this Fox offering.

I'm sure the movie is great; however, I couldn't watch it because they shipped me a cracked, worthless DVD. I have tried to contact the seller about this problem and I have heard nothing back.

I have enjoyed this film several times and will continue to do so

I am a kennedy affectionado and have most of the tapes produced etc. Although the acting was average this film did not really delve into RFK s childhood and family interactions with other siblings. Since I enjoy most Kennedy stories I wasn't disappointed just felt it could have been done better. Didn't really get his relationship with Monroe it was unclear. Anyway for entertainment it is worth a watch and would recommend to others as a DVD to watch.