What I Rented - Bobby

Emilio Estevez certainly has a lot to say in Bobby about the infamous night Bobby Kennedy was shot at the Ambassador Hotel. With a sprawling cast and multiple storylines (very reminscent of Robert Altman's Nashville) he attempts to create a snapshot of America on the eve of June 6, 1968. It doesn't always work, as there are just too many stories, and several come across as shallow and cliched, but when it does get things right, as it does in its last act, Bobby manages to convey how fragile the American dream truly is, and how those who fight hardest to protect that idealism often fall victim to its shortcomings.

Instead of focusing on Robert Kennedy as a three dimensional character, Estevez uses him as a symbol of optimism. Through old news clips, Bobby, is seen as a hero who will guide America through Vietnam, and bridge the racial divide. It's a smart decision on Estevez's part, because the film isn't about who Kennedy was, it's about how so many people needed a pure hero, regardless of reality, and put all of their hopes and dreams into what he could potentially achieve.

The stories in the hotel reflect this viewpoint. There's the Mexican restaurant worker (Freddy Rodriguez) who longs for a day when he won't be mistreated because of his skin colour. There's the retired doorman (Anthony Hopkins) who lives in the past because the present is cruel and unforgiving. There are the two young Kennedy volunteers (Brian Geraghty and Shia LaBeouf) who spend the day tripping out on acid because they can't imagine what the future holds for them. As each character, including many others, gets ready to watch Kennedy's speech at the hotel, they begin to realize that he may be able to guide them out of their ruts.

These stories unfortunately don't have time to offer much in the way of depth and often hit one note repeatedly. It feels like Estevez is more interested in using these characters to create a cacophany of political and socialogical ideoligies. From each character's story, arises an issue that Bobby Kennedy's political agenda can solve. It's at this point, about an hour in, once the characters start to become mouthpieces for political viewpoints that the film starts to wear out its welcome.

Fortunately, Estevez is able to get back on track for a well-done ending, showing that there is method to his madness. With all of these political ideas floating around creating a sense of wide eyed optimism, it is hard not to feel everything that was lost when Kennedy was shot. The stories converge with the assassination, and Bobby shows how quickly thoughts of peace and unity devolved into a struggle for survival that night. The horrors everyone hoped Bobby would shield them from, infiltrated their "safe" world, leading to a very different future for America.

Bobby isn't a great movie, and the large cast isn't handled well, but there is passion behind it, and the emotional ending is haunting.

Star Rating *** out of 4