| INTERVIEW WITH THE ASSASSIN Rating:  Director: Neil Burger Producers: Brian Koppelman & David Levien Writer: Neil Burger Director of Photography: Richard Rutkowski Cast: Raymond J. Barry, Dylan Haggerty, Renee Faia, Kate Williamson, Jared McVay Visit the IMDB page for full cast and crew |
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Review by: Warren
Curry
11/10/02
Most likely the greatest unsolved mystery
of the 20th century, the assassination of John F. Kennedy is still
able to elicit a wide cross-section of opinions from the American
general public and has undoubtedly inspired many a raging debate.
Neil Burger's new film, Interview With The Assassin, isn't
concerned with exploring the countless theories that may or may
not be the solution to the puzzle, but uses the event to take
a peek inside the minds of two men who both stand to gain something
from it. Told in a documentary style (it's a fiction film),
Interview With The Assassin features a compelling premise
(although I'm sure there are many who would prefer to never hear
another word about the incidents of November 22, 1963), plenty
of insight into human insecurity and a few moments that are surprisingly
chilling. On the flip side, it's also a film that feels confined
and somewhat limited, which is a deliberate stylistic choice,
but that decision, in a way, reduces some potentially intriguing
possibilities.
Ron (Dylan Haggerty), an out-of-work cameraman with a wife and
young daughter, videotapes a confession from his neighbor, Walter
(Raymond J. Barry), where the man states that he was the one who
fired the bullet that killed President Kennedy. Unsure of Walter's
mental state, Ron is attracted to the man's admission not only
because of his obvious curiosity, but also due to his very valid
belief that breaking the exclusive story could be a financial
windfall for his family. Ron captures more of Walter's story on
tape and travels with the eccentric man to visit an old Marine
pal, and also to track down another elusive figure involved in
the plot. Walter claims that there's a network of people trying
to kill him, which would also make Ron a target in the crosshairs.
As Walter's paranoia (real or imagined we don't know) gradually
trickles down to Ron, the cameraman finds every moment of his
life to be plagued with unbearable tension.
As Walter, Raymond J. Barry is a revelation. His performance is so authentic that it makes the film much more frightening than it sounds on paper. Walter is a stern, hardened man, claiming to be dying of cancer (explaining why he's not afraid to confess), who reveals traces of unbalanced behavior in just about every one of his actions. Although it's easy to believe the desperation in Ron's obsession with the story, he comes across a bit too vulnerable. His weakness hampers what could be a more volatile struggle between he and Walter.
While the documentary approach is not just the film's format, but actually part of its content, it puts borders on the different avenues of expression the movie could venture down. The film is entertaining, and obviously being confined to the world you see through Ron's camera lens is essential to what director Burger was trying to accomplish, but it blunts the potency of Walter's character. I can't even say for sure whether or not this criticism is valid, because I realize that I'm essentially asking for a movie with a different set of goals.
Interview With The Assassin certainly exists on a level that transcends just its hook, and its quick pace keeps you involved from start to finish. While I, personally, may have been enthralled by the film more were it told in a traditional narrative fashion (which I think could've added all sorts of layers to Walter's character), I admire Burger's vision for this material. It's a movie that balances primal and cerebral elements in an economic manner, and boldly confronts the viewer every step of the way.
(Read
the interview with writer/director Neil Burger.)
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