On the latest episode of Reel Shorts, writer/director Peter Landesman’s Parkland is a recounting of the chaotic events that occurred at Dallas’ Parkland Hospital on the day U.S. President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.
Audio Review
Twenty years after Oliver Stone’s conspiracy-laden look back at the events of JFK, comes this story that focuses not on the actual event itself but the aftermath and the people of Dallas who are left to deal with the chaotic hours over the course of 72 hours after the fateful shootings.
Using the Parkland hospital as the film’s central hub, the film examines the anticipation of President John F. Kennedy’s arrival in Dallas. Taking advantage of the president’s visit to use his new camera, businessman, Abraham Zapruder instead has a bird’s-eye view into fateful events of that afternoon.
The after-effects ranging from a valiant fight to save JFK’s life, the ensuing guilt over his death and fight to protect “their man,” also leads to guessing and then second-guessing among the President’s men, the Dallas medical examiner’s office, as well as the local FBI office.
In addition, the assassin’s brother, Robert Oswald, believes in his brother’s innocence despite the wild proclamations from his delusional mother, who thinks Lee Harvey is a government spy and patsy.
Instead of focusing on conspiracy theories, Landesman mines the emotional toll extracted by all parties involved and how the fateful event not only impacted the nation but burrowed deep into each of their souls and would stay with them until their dying days.
The film features some very heartfelt performances from Giamatti as Zapruder, whose film was the only one to catch the hellish events from that day; Thornton as a proud Secret Service Agent who failed to protect “his man,” and James Badge Dale, who has to live in Dallas with the Oswald name.
Parkland is a wonderful look at history for those too young to remember and a sobering reminder of a very difficult period for those a lot older.
Grade: B+