Emilio Estivez wrote and directed this film. It is, above all else, a tribute to, and reassertion of the words and work of Bobby Kennedy. Documentary footage and audio are integrated throughout this production to make him live again in this film.
This is one of those pastiche films of people "sharing a moment of time" when separate lives all intersect through fate (a style which is not my cup of tea). Unfortunately, there is an awful lot to wade through just to get to that moment, much of it banal. This film tries so hard to be historical, timely, and PC all at the same time, that it is utterly devoid of charm or interest.
The cast is so chock full of luminaries that it looks like a remake of Spelling's HOTEL, or SHIP OF FOOLS, with the same amount of soap opera story lines. Unfortunately, the famous faces are often extremely distracting. Oh! Look! It's Frodo getting married! I wonder if he is using "precious" as the ring? This film would have benefited enormously from casting mostly little known faces, especially when you get to the pay off scene.
Surprisingly, the stand out performance is Sharon Stone as a sadder-but-wiser gal, a hotel salon hairdresser married to the philandering manager (William Macy). I love it when a familiar actress actually brings new facial expressions to the table, and here she proves herself a strong character actress (like a sequel to her strong work in CASINO, but a more down-home character). The strongest scene in the entire film is between Stone and Demi Moore as an alcoholic performer/diva. Moore evokes Joan Crawford in her later years, dependent on large wigs and alcohol.
There is something touching and a little scary about these gaunt, overly tanned women (Helen Hunt, too) some of this must be make-up, because that "beached, bleached and smoked look" was in vogue with the country club set at this time period, but it's a cautionary tale about skin like leather stretched over a skeletal frame. So that IS relevant, isn't it?!
Estivez wisely gives himself a very small role, but sympathetic, and (other than Kennedy's) the most memorable line of the film. Harry Belafonte and Anthony Hopkins quote GRAND HOTEL at the onset of the film, but this is no grand hotel. Too much happens, and everything changes. It's almost painful to see these two lions in these roles with meaningless dialogue, just filling time. I was just so relieved when this film was over! Finally!
The words of Kennedy remain relevant and inspiring, and BOBBY makes me long for a really good bio documentary of his life instead of this sound and fury cavalcade of stars tribute.
This is one of those pastiche films of people "sharing a moment of time" when separate lives all intersect through fate (a style which is not my cup of tea). Unfortunately, there is an awful lot to wade through just to get to that moment, much of it banal. This film tries so hard to be historical, timely, and PC all at the same time, that it is utterly devoid of charm or interest.
The cast is so chock full of luminaries that it looks like a remake of Spelling's HOTEL, or SHIP OF FOOLS, with the same amount of soap opera story lines. Unfortunately, the famous faces are often extremely distracting. Oh! Look! It's Frodo getting married! I wonder if he is using "precious" as the ring? This film would have benefited enormously from casting mostly little known faces, especially when you get to the pay off scene.
Surprisingly, the stand out performance is Sharon Stone as a sadder-but-wiser gal, a hotel salon hairdresser married to the philandering manager (William Macy). I love it when a familiar actress actually brings new facial expressions to the table, and here she proves herself a strong character actress (like a sequel to her strong work in CASINO, but a more down-home character). The strongest scene in the entire film is between Stone and Demi Moore as an alcoholic performer/diva. Moore evokes Joan Crawford in her later years, dependent on large wigs and alcohol.
There is something touching and a little scary about these gaunt, overly tanned women (Helen Hunt, too) some of this must be make-up, because that "beached, bleached and smoked look" was in vogue with the country club set at this time period, but it's a cautionary tale about skin like leather stretched over a skeletal frame. So that IS relevant, isn't it?!
Estivez wisely gives himself a very small role, but sympathetic, and (other than Kennedy's) the most memorable line of the film. Harry Belafonte and Anthony Hopkins quote GRAND HOTEL at the onset of the film, but this is no grand hotel. Too much happens, and everything changes. It's almost painful to see these two lions in these roles with meaningless dialogue, just filling time. I was just so relieved when this film was over! Finally!
The words of Kennedy remain relevant and inspiring, and BOBBY makes me long for a really good bio documentary of his life instead of this sound and fury cavalcade of stars tribute.