Killing Kennedy (film)
Killing Kennedy | |
---|---|
![]() Promotional poster for the US premiere | |
Genre | Docudrama |
Based on | Killing Kennedy by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard |
Screenplay by | Kelly Masterson |
Directed by | Nelson McCormick |
Starring | Rob Lowe Will Rothhaar Ginnifer Goodwin Michelle Trachtenberg |
Theme music composer | Geoff Zanelli |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
Production | |
Producer | Larry Rapaport |
Cinematography | Stephen St. John |
Editor | Adam Wolfe |
Running time | 92 min (net runtime) |
Production company | Scott Free Productions |
Original release | |
Network | Nat Geo US |
Release |
|
Killing Kennedy is 2013 American television film, based on the 2012 non-fiction book of the same title by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard, and starring Rob Lowe, Will Rothhaar, Ginnifer Goodwin, and Michelle Trachtenberg. The movie dramatizes the presidency and assassination of John F. Kennedy, as well as the life of Lee Harvey Oswald in the years leading up to the assassination.
It premiered in the US and Canada on National Geographic Channel on November 10, 2013,[1] followed by the various European National Geographic channels a few days later.[2][3][4][5][6] It was first shown on terrestrial TV in the UK by Channel 4 on November 23. 2013.
Plot summary
The plot follows the rise of John F. Kennedy (Rob Lowe) as he becomes President of the United States. As Kennedy's career shapes, Lee Harvey Oswald (Will Rothhaar), a former Marine, begins to grow disillusioned with America. Their paths ultimately cross and results in Oswald's assassination of Kennedy.
Main cast
- Rob Lowe as John F. Kennedy
- Will Rothhaar as Lee Harvey Oswald
- Ginnifer Goodwin as Jacqueline Kennedy
- Michelle Trachtenberg as Marina Oswald
- Jack Noseworthy as Robert F. Kennedy
- Francis Guinan as Lyndon B. Johnson
- Richard Flood as Kenny O'Donnell
- Natalie Gold as Ruth Paine
- Jamie McShane as US Moscow Embassy consul Richard Edward Snyder
- Brian Hutchison as USSS Special Agent Winston Lawson
- Casey Siemaszko as Jack Ruby
- Antoinette LaVecchia as Lady Bird Johnson
- Boris McGiver as FBI Special Agent John W. Fain
- Matt Micou as J. D. Tippit
- Keith Tyree as Governor John Connally
- Adrienne Nelson as Nellie Connally
- Lucas N Hall as Officer Atwell
- Roger W. Durrett as Admiral Arleigh Burke, Chief of Naval Operations
- Danny McCarthy as Agent James P. Hosty
- Parker Dowling as Buell Wesley Frazier
- Mike Shiflett as Captain Will Fritz
- Terry Menefee Gau as Nurse Doris Nelson
- Joseph Gray as Sergeant Gerald Hill
- Mary Pat Gleason as Marguerite Oswald
Production
After the success of Killing Lincoln, National Geographic Channel announced it would produce a film adaptation of Killing Kennedy.[7][8] In May 2013, it was announced that Rob Lowe was to play President John F. Kennedy, Ginnifer Goodwin would play First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy,[9][10] and Michelle Trachtenberg would portray Lee Harvey Oswald's wife Marina Oswald.[11] Goodwin used intimate photos to better portray Jackie Kennedy and was concerned "to do her justice and to play her as accurately as possible without ever doing an impression of her."[12] Costar Rob Lowe said of seeing Goodwin in the pink Chanel suit, "It made it real. If I were under any illusions about what we were doing, seeing her in that iconic moment was, I would say, sobering."[13] While portraying Marina Oswald, Trachtenberg consulted her Russian-born mother for help in speaking Russian.[14]
Reception
On its original airing, it drew in 3,354,000 viewers, averaging a 1.1 rating with adults in the 25-54 demographic. The viewership broke the record previously held by Killing Lincoln which averaged 3,351,000 viewers.[15]
Critical response
Killing Kennedy received mixed to negative reviews from both viewers and critics.[16][17][18][19][20]
Awards and nominations
Year | Association | Category | Nominee | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | Critics' Choice Television Awards | Best Movie/Miniseries | Killing Kennedy | Nominated |
Directors Guild of America Award | Outstanding Directing – Television Film | Nelson McCormick | Nominated | |
Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie | Rob Lowe | Nominated | |
Writers Guild of America Award | Long Form – Adaptation | Kelly Masterson | Nominated | |
Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Television Movie | Nominated | ||
Outstanding Cinematography For A Miniseries Or Movie | Stephen St. John | Nominated | ||
Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Miniseries Or A Movie | William Britt, Mark Linden & Tara Paul | Nominated |
References
- ^ "TV listings, November 10, 2013, at 8:00pm: Killing Kennedy". National Geographic Canada. Retrieved 24 Nov 2013.
- ^ "TV listings, November 12, 2013, at 9:00pm: Killing Kennedy". National Geographic UK. Retrieved 24 Nov 2013.
- ^ "TV listings, November 17, 2013, at 22:00: Killing Kennedy". National Geographic Denmark. Retrieved 24 Nov 2013.
- ^ "TV listings, November 17, 2013, at 22:00: Kennedy-mordet". National Geographic Sweden. Retrieved 24 Nov 2013.
- ^ "TV listings, November 20, 2013, at 20:40: Killing Kennedy". National Geographic France. Retrieved 24 Nov 2013.
- ^ "TV listings, November 22, 2013, at 21:05: Killing Kennedy". National Geographic Germany. Retrieved 24 Nov 2013.
- ^ "Bill O'Reilly's 'Killing Lincoln' Sets NatGeo Ratings Record". Inquistir, Ld. The Inquistir. February 21, 2013. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
- ^ Hibberd, James (February 18, 2013). "'Killing Lincoln' gives NatGeo record ratings". Entertainment Weekly Inc. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
- ^ Hibberd, James (May 28, 2013). "Rob Lowe to play JFK in Nat Geo movie". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
- ^ Barnes, Bronwyn (June 20, 2013). "Who makes a better Jackie Kennedy: Ginnifer Goodwin or Katie Holmes? -- POLL". Entertainment Weekly.
- ^ Hibberd, James (May 28, 2013). "Rob Lowe to play JFK in Nat Geo movie". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
- ^ Truitt, Brian (November 10, 2013). "Ginnifer Goodwin channels Jackie Kennedy's intimate side". USA Today.
- ^ "'Killing Kennedy': Co-star Ginnifer Goodwin says Rob Lowe was channeling JFK". Fox News. November 8, 2013.
- ^ http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/michelle-trachtenberg-speaks-russian-kennedy-article-1.1509071
- ^ O'Connell, Michael (November 11, 2013). "TV Ratings: 'Killing Kennedy' Edges Past 'Killing Lincoln' Record With 3.4 Million Viewers". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 16, 2014.
- ^ Carson, Tom (November 8, 2013). "The GQ Review: Killing Kennedys Is Way More Fun Than The Zillion Other JFK Biopics". gq.com.
- ^ Miller, Bruce (November 9, 2013). "Review: 'Killing Kennedy' offers respectful but grating view of assassination". siouxcityjournal.com.
- ^ Lloyd, Robert (November 8, 2013). "Review: 'Killing Kennedy' is not the stuff of legend". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Lowry, Brian (November 5, 2013). "TV Review: 'Killing Kennedy'". Variety.
- ^ Killing Kennedy (2013), retrieved 2019-05-27
External links
- 2013 television films
- 2010s biographical drama films
- 2010s crime films
- American films
- American drama films
- American documentary television films
- English-language films
- Films about the assassination of John F. Kennedy
- Films about the Cuban Missile Crisis
- Films based on non-fiction books
- Films directed by Nelson McCormick
- Films set in the White House
- Films set in Dallas
- Films set in the 1960s
- Films set in Minsk
- National Geographic (American TV channel) original programming
- Films based on works by Bill O'Reilly (political commentator)
- Films based on works by Martin Dugard (author)
- Cultural depictions of John F. Kennedy
- Cultural depictions of Robert F. Kennedy
- Cultural depictions of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
- Cultural depictions of Lyndon B. Johnson
- Cultural depictions of Lee Harvey Oswald
- Cultural depictions of Jack Ruby