sign in sign up
<<
Home , Alfred Hitchcock, Anthony Perkins, Bruce Greenwood, Danny Aiello, Docudrama, Donald Sutherland

IT’S A CONSPIRACY! As a Cautionary Remembrance of the JFK —A Survey of Films With A Paranoid Edge Dan Akira Nishimura with Don Malcolm

The only culture to enlist the imagination and change the charac- der. As it snows, he walks the streets of the town that will be forever ter of Americans was the one we had been given by the movies… changed. The banker Mr. Potter (), a scrooge-like No had the mind, courage or force to be national character, practically owns Bedford Falls. As he prepares to reshape leader… So the President nominated himself. He would fill the it in his own image, Potter doesn’t act alone. There’s also a board void. He would be the movie star come to life as President. of directors with identities shielded from the public (think MPAA). Who are these people? And what’s so wonderful about them? —Norman Mailer 3. Ace in the Hole (1951) resident John F. was a movie fan. Ironically, one A former big city reporter of his favorites was (1962), lands a job for an Albu- directed by . With the president’s per- querque daily. Chuck Tatum mission, Frankenheimer was able to shoot scenes from (Kirk ) is looking for (1964) at the White . Due to a ticket back to “the Apple.” Pthe events of November 1963, both films seem prescient. He thinks he’s found it when Was a sleeper agent, a “Manchurian candidate?” Leo Mimosa (Richard Bene- Or was it a military coup as in the latter film? Or both? dict) is trapped in a cave Over the years, many films have dealt with political conspira- collapse. With the collusion cies—some realistically, others using allegory or fantasy. Here’s our of the corrupt sheriff (Ray Top 40 by year of release (for an extended discussion of the epic Teal), the crisis is extended Dallas-to-extraterrestrial conspiracy hatched on the legendary and becomes a circus, the “big carnival” of the film’s alternate title. series The X-Files, the reader is directed to Ray Pratt’s ex- editors bite at the story, giving Tatum an exclusive. Lo- cellent book, Projecting Paranoia). cally, his editor Jacob Q. Boot (Porter Hall), who’d hired him with misgivings, suspects something but can’t prove it. Mimosa’s wife (Jan 1. The Wizard of Oz (1939) Sterling) succumbs to Tatum but also contributes to his downfall. Seeking disaster relief ’s film is an indictment of the media’s drive to make news after a tornado, (and money) rather just reporting on it. state representative Doro- thy ( Garland) flies 4. (1953) to Oz. Finding the capitol ’s fast-paced noir stars in gridlock, she caucuses , , and with fellow reps (Bert . Widmark plays Skip Lahr, , Jack McCoy, a pickpocket who acciden- Haley) who turn out to tally lifts a coded message being lack courage, brains, and transported by an attractive brunette heart. Suspecting a con- (Peters). This may be the best of the spiracy and realizing it’s anti-Communist pictures. It up to her to uncover it, Dorothy pulls back the curtain on the au- generally avoids preachiness and ex- tocratic chief executive (Frank Morgan). She discovers that the man newsman Fuller’s dialogue rolls off who made a lot of promises at election time is not as all-powerful as the tongues of the . Ritter is everyone thought. poignant as Moe, the doomed grift- er who puts herself in harm’s way 2. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) against a Commie spy ring due to After a lifetime of sacrifice and hard work, George Bailey (James a simple, but elemental, thought: “I Stewart) is faced with having his family savings-and-loan going un- don’t like ‘em!!”

92 NOIR CITY I FALL 2013 I filmnoirfoundation.org 5. (1954) Scottie doesn’t realize is that the woman who perished was switched In an essay about the theatri- prior to her fall from the church bell tower. Scottie is the proverbial cal experience, Colin Root writes of the “fall guy,” inadvertently aiding in the “,” his inaction caused opening scene of this modern day West- by “.” Paralyzed with fear, he forgot Lesson #1 in the detec- ern: “ is swallowed by the tive manual and left without checking the body. Judy Barton (Kim open space that surrounds him… We Novak) was the “honeytrap,” Gavin’s accomplice in his wife’s mur- primarily notice the negative space: the der. The coroner () who leads the inquest exonerates blue sky, the hills, and the endless train Scottie but not-so-subtly blames him. The cover-up is complete. tracks and fences.” When John J. Mac- reedy (Tracy) arrives in the desert town 9. (1958) of Black Rock, he mentions to residents While it really isn’t the “last film that he’s looking for a Japanese-American noir” as often claimed, Orson who lived nearby. Their reaction tells him Welles (in a glorious but ill-fated something is wrong. ’s Reno comeback) takes the Smith, ringleader of the local coverup, is “bad cop” sub- to its ultimate as mean a bigot as one can imagine. He doesn’t frighten the handi- extreme with this luridly flamboy- capped Macreedy, who continues his fight to learn the truth. ant tale of corruption and dynamite. Donning a “fat suit” in his quest to 6. (1956) portray outsized evil, Welles turns Manny Balestero (Henry Fon- Hank Quinlan into the biggest con- da) is a musician charged spirator in film history. Charlton with bank robbery. Directed Heston, who lobbied for Welles by , this to direct the film, plays his harried is mistaken identity, not a Mexican law enforcement counter- frame-up. And the stakes are part Miguel Vargas, who must go lower than if it were a murder against Quinlan’s legendary police case. Still, try telling that to record to expose his systematic cor- poor Manny who gets caught ruption of justice. He soon finds out that Quinlan has a multitude up in “the system.” As we of “dirty tricks” up his sleeve, many of which get played on Vargas’ saw with Oswald, once the blonde, buxom wife (). authorities get it in their head that someone is guilty, all clues seem to lead back to him. The “wrong man” motif exists in many manifes- 10. The Manchurian Candidate (1962) tations of noir, not just the government conspiracy sub-genre. Henry Raymond Shaw (Laurence Fonda gives an opaque performance and has a deer-in-the-headlights Harvey) returns from cap- expression for most of its running time. tivity in Korea programmed to kill. Surviving P.O.W’s 7. The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956) from his unit know the Hitchcock revisits his 1934 British with good results. The ex- truth about what happened, otic locations take full of advantage of and wide screen but it’s only remembered VistaVision. The assassination plot gets the story moving. Will the when they dream. When innocent couple who stumble onto it prevail in the end? With stars one of them, Captain Mar- and , one would hope so… co (), begins his own investigation and 8. Vertigo (1958) starts getting close to the truth, he’s put on leave. Using the template Not a commercial suc- of The Wizard of Oz, there’s a good witch (Janet Leigh), whom Mar- cess at the time, Ver- co meets on a train and a bad one (), the mother of tigo is now considered Raymond Shaw. Adapted by from Richard Con- Hitchcock’s master- don’s novel, it’s a movie that unites the McCarthy-era past with the piece. John “Scottie” 1962 cold-war present and a future full of . Ferguson (James Stew- art) is a former detective 11. (1962) who suffers from acro- Adapted by from the novel by , this is phobia. At an inquest a spectacular visualization of Kafka’s supremely dark universe. in a coastal is Josef K., a bank clerk arrested one morning at town, (a Chappaquid- his rooming house. Although he’s not jailed, neither is he told the dick hearing before its charges (in some ways, Oswald faced this predicament when he was time), he stands accused of negligence in the death of Madeleine arrested for but not charged with the killing of the President). In Elster, the wife of his college chum, Gavin (Tom Helmore). What Josef’s case, the behavior of the authorities ranges from whimsical

filmnoirfoundation.org I FALL 2013 I NOIR CITY 93 to sadistic to murderous. He receives legal advice from the Advocate 14. Point of Order (1964) (Welles) who appears to be working for the other side. When Joseph McBride’s parents, both Welles got caught up in his own Kafkaesque nightmare during active Wisconsin Democrats, put a the filming of the allegoricalMr. Arkadin (1955), a complex, bizarre “Joe Must Go” bumper sticker on the variant of the cover-up/conspiracy tale. He told it family station wagon, the six-year-old was “the best popular story I ever thought up for a movie.” Making namesake of Senator McCarthy pan- it, however, “was just anguish from beginning to end.” Three differ- icked (temporarily). Director Emile de ent versions of the film exist due to all the machinations. Antonio’s film is composed of footage from the 1954 Army-McCarthy hear- 12. Seven Days in May (1964) ings. Ostensibly to ferret out Commu- While this tense tale of an attempt- nists, the hearings devolved into an ed military coup mainly featured embarrassing gay witch hunt (also see members of the boys’ club that Advise and Consent [1962]) with Mc- comprise the Joint Chiefs (Kirk Carthy having a mental breakdown in Douglas, ) and front of the camera. Representing the as the President, Army was Joseph N. Welch, a born is worth watching ham who later played the judge in for as Eleanor Holbrook. Ear- Anatomy of a Murder (1959). And just what was Bobby Kennedy lier, she had co-starred in Stanley doing there, anyway? Kramer’s On the Beach (1959), the story of an atomic attack 15. The Patsy (1964) that happens, ironically, in 1964. The title was probably not taken wrote the screenplay, from the Oswald remark. Then backing away from the allegory again, writer/director/star Jerry a bit by making the President an Lewis is known for his perverse older man than was the case in the sense of humor. Jerry plays Stan- novel. President Kennedy believed ley, the “fall guy” in a scheme the message of Seven Days in May cooked up by a gang of television would be “a warning to ” and went on vacation to Hyan- comedians. Like politics, show nis Port to facilitate filming at the ; unfortunately, the business is a tough racket. Ever- “warning” came too late. ett Sloane ( [1941]), (Fallen Angel 13. Fail-Safe (1964) [1945]) and (Black Or- In ’s thriller, the nucle- chid [1958]) co-star. , ar attack about to be launched on , and Rhonda Moscow is due to a technical glitch. Fleming appear as themselves. It As Agent Maxwell Smart (Don Ad- was ’s final screen ap- ams) would say, “Sorry about that, pearance. And what a way to go! Chief!” The Soviets are nice guys at heart so they agree to the President’s 16. Blow-Up (1966) plan to maintain parity. Henry Why was Fonda plays him as thoughtful and dropped two weeks before ethical with a Zen-like calm under shooting began? A conspiracy, pressure. perhaps? ’s Dr. Strangelove took over the role and is note or: How I Learned to Stop Worry- perfect as Thomas, a talented ing and Love the Bomb was released but arrogant photogra- the same year. Although it seems al- pher (based loosely on swinging most like a parody of Fail-Safe, any London picture snapper David influence would have been indirect. With the Bailey). While snapping pho- and Berlin, doomsday was in the air. Strangelove’s War Room set tos in the park, he encounters has been praised for its realism, but characters were exaggerated for a mysterious woman (Vanessa comic effect (though not as much as one might think!). Redgrave). Thomas keeps taking In the made-for-TV The Missiles of October (1974), William Dev- pictures. When he later enlarges ane is President Kennedy and is Robert F. Kennedy, on (blows up) the photos in his whose book the movie was based. The story was revisited in Roger darkroom, he notices something Donaldson’s Thirteen Days (2000), adapted from the book The Ken- strange. The , initially seen as black-and-white still nedy Tapes, with as JFK. images, may not have been directly on the mind of writer/director

94 NOIR CITY I FALL 2013 I filmnoirfoundation.org Antonioni. Blow-Up was the first of Antonioni’s Eng- net meet, it’s as if Dilman isn’t even there. They soon discover he has lish language, rock and roll movies. The mod fashions and swinging a mind of his own, posing a threat to their plans of reshaping the London backdrop at first give the story a deceptively upbeat ambi- government. ence. It’s been said that the arrival of gave Americans a , the narrator of JFK: A President Betrayed much needed respite from the assassination. As this film shows, the (2013), is President in Deep Impact (1998). His oratory style darkness is always there beneath the surface. may have influenced as Senator, then President Palmer on 24 (2001-2007), whose administration nearly coincided 17. Rush to Judgment (1967) with that of President Obama. appears on camera ex- tensively and says he wants the film 20. Executive Action (1973) to be “a brief for the defense of Os- Directed by from wald.” He makes the point that a screenplay by , even “dead Nazi war criminals” the story came from Donald were given legal counsel at Nurem- Freed and Mark Lane. Addition- berg. Eyewitnesses are permitted to al research was provided by W. speak at length—including Acquilla Penn Jones, Jr. and others. With Clemmons, who witnessed the Tip- a brain trust like that, the movie pit killing by a “short, heavy” man. must be good, right? Not quite: Some were never called before the it suffers from the same problem Warren Commission or had their that hampered JFK twenty years testimony altered. Others are shown later, where characters are forced backtracking on their original testi- to convey too much information mony and admit being influenced by verbally. Liberals Burt Lancaster, the Warren Commission Report and Robert Ryan, and the formerly the media. There’s a clip of an inter- blacklisted Will Geer gamely es- view with Detective James Leavelle pouse the far right, racist views saying, among other things, that he recognized as he was of characters plotting President advancing toward him, gun in hand. In another interview, a former Kennedy’s assassination. Still, a Dallas patrolman tells Lane that a man resembling Ruby was given movie where less is explained in dialogue generally works better. free access to the basement of City Hall. Directed by Emile de Anto- Fortunately, leads Ryan and Lancaster are convincing. Ryan’s nio, it’s barebones filmmaking, typical of documentaries of the era. Robert Foster is a sly fox, bemused by the seemingly erratic behavior The only instance of music on the soundtrack occurs when Lane of Oswald: “The man’s a genius. He’ll be having the FBI watching interviews an African American entertainer who worked at the Car- the CIA and the CIA watching the Bureau. Before he’s through no- ousel, Ruby’s nightclub. The interview takes place as he sits at the body will know whose man he is.” Taking no chances, a “double” is piano playing moody jazz. It’s a poignant, unexpected interlude. trained to impersonate their “patsy.” Photo alteration does the rest. Released in the same year, Scorpio has Lancaster as Cross, a vet- 18. Z (1969) eran CIA assassin teamed with a French counterpart played by Alain When Costa-Gavras pre- Delon (Le Samourai [1967]) Delon is the title character. “We named miered his thriller about you well,” offers a fellow spook. “You have a penchant for intrigue, the monetary crisis (Cap- violence.” I’m used to watching Delon with subtitles. It’s an open ital [2012]) in Los Ange- question whether or not he can speak English, but he does look great. les, middle-aged folks at the Q&A only wanted to 21. (1974) talk about Z, a seminal Not widely seen in its time despite star- film in their youth. With ring , it’s one of the great the American assassina- films of the . Directed by Alan J. tions still too hot to han- Pakula, the story begins with an assassi- dle, Z’s story of the cov- nation committed by two gunmen. One er-up of of a dies while being apprehended. The oth- Greek politician was distant enough but had tremendous resonance. er escapes undetected. Without men- tioning Kennedy directly, the audience 19. The Man (1972) knows exactly what’s being referenced. In 1972, was re-elected by a landslide. The thought The tone is dark and enigmatic with oc- of a black man in the White House was, frankly, inconceivable. Rod casional humor. The tribunal seen mak- Serling, no stranger to conspiracy theories, adapted Irving Wallace’s ing pronouncements about the case is novel about just such an impossible scenario. Through tragic circum- quick to endorse a lone assassin theory stances, Douglass Dilman () an African-American and is an eerie but absurd send-up of member of the Senate becomes President. When members of the cabi- the Warren Commission.

filmnoirfoundation.org I FALL 2013 I NOIR CITY 95 22. (1974) 25. All The President’s Men (1976) Harry Caul (Gene Hack- Played by in the man) is a surveillance ex- film, Carl Bernstein was last seen pert guilt-ridden about an wearing a T-shirt that read: “I fol- earlier case where inno- lowed the money, too, and all I got cent people were harmed. was this lousy T-shirt.” Bernstein’s He doesn’t want that to former partner, Woodward, happen again. Secretly has enriched himself writing insider taping a “conversation,” books. Their Watergate source, he believes that a murder Deep Throat, was thought to be a is about to happen and composite character until former tries to intervene. The Associate FBI Director W. Mark film, directed by Francis Felt came forward in 2005. Deep Ford Coppola, is a warning about the intrusive society we were be- Throat was reborn as the Cigarette coming due to technology. It’s also notable for the innovative sound Smoking Man (William B. Davis) design by Walter Murch. on The X-Files, a character with his own take on the Kennedy assassi- 23. Chinatown (1974) nation. Noah Cross () heads one of the wealthy families 26. (1981) that control . A pri- Inspired by the earlier Blow-Up, Blow Out stands on its own. Jack vate detective named Jake Gittes () is a sound man. As in Blow-Up, something he () discovers that records later turns out to have sinister implications and embroils him Cross and his cronies are illegally in—yes, a conspiracy. diverting water. Water rights will determine property values and 27. Missing (1983) the growth of the city. At least in Ed Horman () is an American searching for his son the movie, it’s something impor- () in Chile the September 11, 1973 military take- tant enough to kill for. Directed over. President Salvador Allende was assassinated and his supporters by , the film were disappearing. It’s another disturbing from Cos- beautifully renders late 1930’s ta-Gavras. Lemmon is wrenchingly brilliant as a man who believes Los Angeles. ’s his- in his country and everything he thought it stood for. The three-part torically based screenplay evokes The Battle of Chile (1975-1979), directed by Patricio Guzman, pro- William Mulholland, who super- vides a deeper understanding of the U.S.-backed coup. vised the building of the Los An- Also in 1983, , directed by and geles aqueduct. starring , carried the idea of “activist judges” to a new extreme. 24. , Part II (1974) In Part I of the Francis Ford 28. Flashpoint (1984) Coppola-directed epic, we saw Reviewer Jeffrey Leach writes: how the Mafia co-existed with “The American Southwest is an the authorities. It’s 1958 and environment of sand, cactus, heat, Michael now leads the Corleone and more heat. It’s the sort of place family. Plots against him abound where some people still think they and older brother Fredo (John live in the Old West… It’s also a Cazale) commits the ultimate place where secrets can hide un- betrayal by taking sides against der the sand for decades…” Lo- the family. Because of Fredo, gan () and Er- Michael is nearly assassinated at nie (Treat Williams) are border his home in Nevada. He survives patrol agents who diverge from and moves to protect Corleone their assigned duties and discover interests in Havana. It’s a mob evidence with a possible link to the paradise, close enough to attract Kennedy assassination. Real bor- Americans eager to gamble, but der patrol agents generally have far enough away from the Feds. beer guts, but no matter. We get a glimpse into the Three years later, Kristofferson that the exiles, who considered Kennedy a traitor, wanted to reclaim. would star in the TV mini-series Amerika in which the is taken over by the Soviets (remember them?). Some Americans col-

96 NOIR CITY I FALL 2013 I filmnoirfoundation.org laborate while others are sent to the gulags. It’s a grim situation, flawed movie. Without a doubt, but patriots find comfort in secret performances of ’sThe is riveting as New Fantasticks, now banned as subversive. The song “Try to Remember Orleans’ District Attorney Jim (A Kind Of September)” becomes a raised-fist revolutionary anthem Garrison. Many of the support- (when I recently told this to a nice lady in Times Square who was ing characters (, hawking tickets to the show, she nearly died laughing). et. al.), however, serve mainly as mouthpieces for the ideas put forth 29. (1992) in Garrison’s books. The assassination of Malcolm X is As the aptly named David Fer- not usually mentioned in the same rie, is entertaining but breath with that of the Kennedy cartoonish in a ridiculous wig. As brothers and Martin Luther King. Lee Harvey Oswald, He gets his due in ’s film, has the right physicality, but his with Denzel head- foreign-sounding accent isn’t quite ing a strong cast. In the opening right. fares better as scene, a young woman supporter the chubby, jive-talking Dean An- cradles Malcolm’s head after he’s drews, a law school chum of Garri- . It’s a gripping scene that son who may know too much. is appropriately ef- strives for authenticity by casting fete as , the silver-haired money man who may have bank- an Asian actress to play Malcolm’s rolled the operation. Colonel X () is yet another real-life confidante, Kochi- variation on Deep Throat. A frequent complaint about Stone is that yama. The cinematography by he can’t write female characters. has the thankless role Ernest R. Dickerson gives the film of Garrison’s long-suffering, nagging wife. “I think you care more an epic quality: in a , the about John Kennedy than your own family,” she complains. Unlike night riders who set fire to the Little family home are seen riding her character in Missing, she at least knows where her husband is. away against a brilliant orange sun. When a New York police cap- tain (Peter Boyle) says of Malcolm, “no one man should have that 32. Nixon (1995) much power,” what he’s really saying is that “no black man should Stone was up to his old tricks, but have that much power.” history didn’t repeat itself. Not nearly as good as JFK, Nixon suf- 30. Ruby (1992) fers from its casting. Anthony Hop- plays Jack Ruby, kins’ impersonation of Richard American’s best-known murder- Nixon is more of a Saturday Night er—but his characterization lacks Live sketch than anything else. In the pronounced element of neuro- real life, the doughy-faced Hopkins sis that Ruby exhibited in real life. neither looks nor sounds anything The movie explores some theories like the deposed president, but it involving Ruby’s connection to was too early for , the Cuban exile community. It’s who’d fill the bill admirably in more about showcasing the girls Frost/Nixon (2012). Of course, if of his strip club. Sheryl Ann Du- someone resembled Nixon they jean, whose burlesque moniker was probably wouldn’t go into show “Candy Cane,” is played by Twin business in the first place. Rip Peaks favorite . In Torn’s Nixon in the TV movie Blind Ambition (1979), based on John real life, Jack Ruby Karen Dean’s book, is much more believable. Carlin (aka “Little Lynn”) begged for help during a Secret Service in- 33. (1997) terview on the night of the Oswald assassination. She was later killed Directed by Richard Donner (Lethal Weapon 1-4), is Jerry in a Houston hotel. Another Ruby stripper, Betty Mooney MacDon- Fletcher, a cab driver obsessed with conspiracies. In the opening credit ald, may also have known too much and was found hanged in her sequence, he’s seen discussing his crackpot ideas while driving his fares jail cell following an arrest. around . It’s a comical sequence, but there are hints of mental illness. He’s dismissed as a loveable kook by Justice Dept. lawyer Alice Sut- 31. JFK (1991) ton (), who’s improbably been meeting with him. He claims Thirty years after Dallas, ’s JFK renewed speculation to have evidence that a satellite is programmed to kill the president. The about what might have actually happened. Researchers were gal- current edition of his newsletter, called “Conspiracy Theory,” features vanized and Congress was pressured into reopening the investiga- an article linking George H. W. Bush to Oliver Stone. His ideas are far- tion and releasing previously classified documents. While it’s ambi- fetched, but a black ops unit led by a Dr. Jonas (Patrick Stewart) doesn’t tious and does an admirable job with re-creations, it’s also a deeply think so. From there, the story becomes increasingly more bizarre.

filmnoirfoundation.org I FALL 2013 I NOIR CITY 97 34. Enemy of the State (1998) sembled into a slick package. stars as lawyer Robert Charges of hypocrisy and treason Clayton Dean in director Tony were hurled his way after the re- Scott’s thriller. plays lease of this film, but he has to be an NSA bad guy named Reynolds. given credit for taking on George Like Voight, is ide- W. Bush when he still had strong ally cast as surveillance renegade support for what quickly became Edward Lyle. He’s Harry Caul all known as the “Baghdad quag- over again, hiding out in a secure mire.” The scene of Bush reading bunker. Dean becomes a wanted to a class of school children while man when he’s passed a video that the Twin Towers were already shows evidence of government- smoldering would be funny, if it sanctioned murder. He loses his weren’t so tragic. Was he dazed, or job, his apartment and his girl- just confused? Had “they” failed friend (), before he to brief him on what was going to strikes back. Along the way, there happen? are ample demonstrations of what surveillance teams were capable of, 37. Death of a even in the early 1990s. I saw this at a revival screening while news President (2006) about NSA spying authorized by President Obama was breaking. To The man Joseph McBride refers what extent is Obama, the inheritor of the imperial presidency, being to as “the wastrel son” who “handled” by the NSA/CIA? He’s backed off on torture, so far as stole the 2000 election gets we know, but since making his bones with the Bin Laden hit, is fully the ultimate comeuppance in onboard with targeted assassinations. Perhaps Gene Hackman could this British that bug the Oval Office to find out. had a brief art house run. Do I believe assassinations are an 35. Interview with the Assassin (2002) acceptable means to a political “You kill the most powerful man end? Of course not. But did I in the world, I’d say that makes stand up and cheer when a fic- you the most powerful, don’t you tionalized version of the worst think?” Ron Kobeleski (Dylan president in my lifetime gets Haggerty) is a laid-off, thirty- his? Unlike GWB, I cannot tell something cameraman hoping to a lie. freelance. He arranges to film an interview with his neighbor across 38. Vantage Point (2008) the street. From behind the cam- Directed by Peter Travers, the era, Ron asks, “So what’s this assassination of U.S. President crime you want to talk about?” Ashton () while Walter Ohlinger (Raymond J. visiting Spain is told from mul- Barry), age 62, doesn’t like the less tiple points of view. In the open- than respectful tone and says, “If ing segment, news director Rex you don’t want to do this, I can Brooks () is ask a real reporter.” After calm- chiding her ace on-camera re- ing him down and agreeing to his porter Angie Jones (Zoe Sal- terms of absolute confidentiality, Walter begins to tell his story. “I dana) for injecting opinion. The was in Dallas, November 22, 1963. That mean anything to you?” correspondent pushes back. It A dead ringer for Hunter S. Thompson, the tightly-coiled former seems like another day at the Marine is a terrifying presence. Suddenly, Walter doesn’t seem like office until shots ring out. For- the crank Ron first suspected. Ron lacks experience as a reporter but est Whitaker is Howard Lewis, begins his investigation by lab-testing the evidence that Walter, who an average Joe making a home doesn’t have long to live, has kept hidden. The two of them then movie of the event. His video head out on a Texas . Director Neil Burger films it like an becomes key evidence. Agent episode of Cops with lots of hand-held camera work. Thomas Barnes () survived a previous assassination attempt (also see In the Line of 36. Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004) Fire [1993]) and it’s déjà vu all over again. Vantage Point maintains is both a galvanizing and a polarizing figure, but he’s interest even when we know what’s coming. It’s the Alfred Hitchcock definitely an innovator: his documentaries have popularized the use of “ticking bomb” paradox. As the story develops, nothing is quite as found footage with narration and authoritative , all as- we first thought.

98 NOIR CITY I FALL 2013 I filmnoirfoundation.org 39. Nothing But the Truth (2008) 40. J. Edgar (2011) Directed by Rod Lurie, this Long-time FBI director J. Edgar tense drama has a plot remi- Hoover, who pioneered finger- niscent of the print identification, has his prints affair. A reporter (Kate Beck- all over the Kennedy assassination insale) refuses to give up her (figuratively if not literally). The source after identifying a CIA film glosses over that point, but we agent (). Free- do learn of Hoover’s adversarial dom of the Press versus con- relationship with Attorney General fidentiality and privacy are Robert Kennedy (Jeffrey Dono- explored. Those issues come van). Leonardo DiCaprio warms up again in the docudrama up for his turn as Jay Gatsby with (2010) with Nao- an astringent portrayal of the ul- mi Watts as Valerie Plame and timate G-man, who is humanized as her husband, Jo- somewhat by a close friendship seph C. Wilson. with his secretary Helen Gandy As a CIA officer, the real- (). The movie also life Plame worked for Presi- deals frankly with Hoover’s sup- dent George H. W. Bush, a pressed homosexuality and relationship with aide Clyde Tolson man for whom Wilson had (Armie Hammer). Directed by and shot with a flick- nothing but praise. That was in stark contrast to what he said about ering burnish by Tom Stern, it’s better than it’s given credit for. the son and his administration. Reading behind the lines of Wilson’s official , he very well could also have been involved in es- 2013‘s Parkland and JFK: A President Betrayed are reviewed sepa- pionage. The family that spies together, stays together! rately. Thanks to Professor Joseph McBride for his assistance. ■

Frank Sinatra, , and in the pivotal scene from The Manchurian Candidate

filmnoirfoundation.org I FALL 2013 I NOIR CITY 99