Odds Against It

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Given director Chris Columbus's well-known tendency to go soft or sentimental, it's hard to see how his forthcoming biopic about Robert F. Kennedy's 1968 presidential run, based on Thurston Clarke's "The Last Campaign: Robert F. Kennedy and 82 Days That Inspired America," will be sufficiently averse to the natural heart-tug of Kennedy's sad story. The telling of it has to be honest, specific, tough-minded. And I don't think Columbus has the courage to trust the audience to feel it on their own.

The other pitfall is casting. It's not the material or even the script (although that's obviously an important factor) as much as the actor who'll play RFK that will spell the difference between success or failure here. The actor would have to be someone in his early 40s with the right look, the right voice (without resorting to any kind of Bugs Bunny-with-a-Boston-accent delivery), the right size, the right hair...everything. It's a very tall order.

It's safe to presume that one of the emotional high points of the film will be the scene in which RFK announces the murder of Martin Luther King to a crowd in Indianapolis, Indiana. But if Columbus has any balls at all, he'll figure a way to use a cut of "Wild Thing" by Senator Bobby. Seriously.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on August 11, 2008 at 2:05 PM

comment #1

AndrewOwens says ...

Matt Damon, surely?

Posted by AndrewOwens at August 11, 2008 2:39 PM

comment #2

Mgmax says ...

Gee, maybe after I watch this, I can watch both of the movies about John Lennon's murder.

Posted by Mgmax at August 11, 2008 2:42 PM

comment #3

NC Gary says ...

The director of HOME ALONE is making a biopic about RFK? The End is near.

Posted by NC Gary at August 11, 2008 2:45 PM

comment #4

BurmaShave says ...

Glad to play Stockton to your Malone, Wells.

Posted by BurmaShave at August 11, 2008 2:57 PM

comment #5

chappiesan says ...

The end is indeed near. Hopefully, this film comes out beforehand so I can get blitzed out of my mind and see Kal Penn play the role of Sirhan Sirhan. I'd expect nothing less (or, is that more) from the likes of Chris Columbus.

Posted by chappiesan at August 11, 2008 3:21 PM

comment #6

corey3rd says ...

maybe he'll cast Emilio Estevez to play Bobby.

Posted by corey3rd at August 11, 2008 3:28 PM

comment #7

astrophore says ...

I'm thinking John Edwards has some free time on his hands. And this'll be the closest he gets to Attorney General.

But whatever the casting decisions, I hope CC can insert at least one scene of the characters bonding by singing a Motown-era song into a hairbrush. That was freakin' awesome in Stepmom.

Russian ambassador, Cuban Missile Crisis. I'm thinking "Ain't Too Proud to Beg". Just spitballin, here.

Posted by astrophore at August 11, 2008 3:54 PM

comment #8

p.Vice says ...

This is a perfect example of the kind of movie that needs to be stopped NOW. Given Columbus's output to date, we all know there is about a 0% chance of the finished movie living up to its subject. Best case scenario is a respectable disappointment -- he just can't do it.

So anyone with any sense who might be involved with this -- common sense, people. It's Chris Columbus! Think about it. The script's not even written yet. You have the opportunity to save terrible from being wrought upon the world...

Posted by p.Vice at August 11, 2008 4:37 PM

comment #9

C-PhreekII says ...

I think this is going to be one of those slow motion train wrecks both admirers of RFK and cinema will have to simply watch with mouths agape. I got no issues with the him as a helmer of studio tentpoles and frothy family friendly comedic capers. But when it comes to adult dramas that peel back the skin to get at the marrow of human condition, it's pretty much too much to hope this is his Schindler's List. His only semi-adult movies were HEARTBREAK HOTEL and NINE MONTHS.

Just look at what he is doing right now. Having restored his career with the Harry Potter and budding Night at the Museum franchises, what does he decide to expand his capital on? Some nerd-loves-hot-chick Hayden Panettiere pic.

Then again, who knows. Maybe that's what has finally driven him to dig deep and go long.

Posted by C-PhreekII at August 11, 2008 5:29 PM

comment #10

BurmaShave says ...

I've never actually seen it, but Linus Roache already played RFK in a TV movie, and based on his work in LAW & ORDER and FIND ME GUILTY, I would say he's near perfect.

Posted by BurmaShave at August 11, 2008 11:55 PM

comment #11

Herry2008 says ...

I'd like to share it with the hotties who also like sports I met at ***R I C H L O V I N G.C O M***,where the hot affluent singles and sexy girls and models to hook up for Hot Love, Flirt and Sexy Dating!

Posted by Herry2008 at August 12, 2008 2:19 AM

comment #12

hcat says ...

This is So Robin Williams comeback role.

Posted by hcat at August 12, 2008 7:55 AM

comment #13

Walter says ...

"The actor would have to be someone in his early 40s with the right look, the right voice (without resorting to any kind of Bugs Bunny-with-a-Boston-accent delivery), the right size, the right hair...everything. It's a very tall order."

Isn't that more or less Matt Damon? No, wait: Isn't that EXACTLY Matt Damon?

Posted by Walter at August 12, 2008 8:22 AM

comment #14