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At 12.15am on 5 June 1968, as Robert F. Kennedy was making his way from the ballroom of the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles to give a press conference after winning the California Primary, he was shot and fatally wounded.
With 'Bobby' actor/director Emilio Estevez chooses not to focus so much on the man himself, and instead points his camera on the people who unwittingly found themselves caught up in one of the most important and tragic events in modern American history.
Now, I'm a fan of biopics however they may be played. For the first act of Bobby I found myself wishing I had been watching a straight biopic of the man Bobby Kennedy. I was skeptical about how Estevez was going to tie the multitude of characters and their stories together. The turning point and integral message for me is the scene with Laurence Fishburne where he talks of King Arthur - a once and future king. If RFK was once that, then who is the modern day equivalent?
From here on the film finds its feet. Estevez weaves his stories together with intracate skill. I was quite simply blown away. He surpassed my expectations. The ensemble all gave inspired performances, most notably the female contingent. I didn't even recognise Sharon Stone until the credits rolled. Ironically the only storyline that felt out of place and surplus to the film was the story shared between Emilio himself and Demi Moore.
Bobby's had a lot of criticism from the film press, most of it undeserved in my opinion. I agree, it's not good to mess with history, and I usually do prefer it if a film remains historically correct. However, Estevez didn't set out to make an RFK biopic. Bobby is about universal love, respecting your neighbour. Issues that run much deeper than the words and actions of one man. And that is why the film works in my view.
8/10
