Parkland
On November 22, 1963 President Kennedy’s motorcade rode through Dealey Plaza in Dallas Texas just a little past 12 noon; it was on this day the course of American history would be drastically shaped as Kennedy was assassinated. Rushed to Parkland Hospital, Parkland the film recounts the sequence of events for several of the pivotal but lesser individuals touched by this tragic moment in history; Specifically, Abraham Zapruder (Paul Giamatti) cameraman of what has become the most famous footage of the event, Dr. Carrico (Zac Efron) the attending doctor at Parkland, FBI agent James Hosty (Ron Livingston), Robert Oswald (James Badge Dale) brother of Lee Harvey Oswald, Forrest Sorrels (Billy Bob Thornton) Head of Secret Service for the event, and host of other presidential staff, the list goes on.
Dusting off what has come to be a fairly understood point in American History writer/director Peter Landesman successfully turns what could be a droll walk down memory lane into a gripping and emotional re-exposure. By finding the edge and untold stories of those orbiting the event the audience is given deeper insight to just how impacting the moment continues to be. Powerful acting from the entire ensemble makes for an immersive watch that spares no detail, wince, or grimace. And, no matter the uncomfortable nature, what’s on the screen is almost sure to hold a captive audience, perhaps hoping for a different outcome? Worth your while, Parkland is rated PG-13.