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Death of a President

Play trailer Poster for Death of a President R Released Oct 27, 2006 1h 33m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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40% Tomatometer 101 Reviews 58% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Documentary filmmakers recount the events leading up to and following the fictionalized assassination of President George W. Bush in 2007. Jamal Abu Kikri, a Syrian national, is hastily fingered as the main suspect, and President Dick Cheney expands governmental power to fight terrorism at home with Patriot Act III. But as Kikri stands trial for the crime, another credible suspect looms into view.

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Death of a President

Death of a President

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Critics Consensus

In this unconvincing fictional documentary, the tense 30 minutes that lead into the title event is outweighed by the boring, melodramatic hour preceding it.

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Critics Reviews

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Nancy Banks-Smith Guardian This beautifully made film was seamlessly woven with a warp of drama and a woof of newsreel. The drama to come made the newsreel of [George W.] Bush utterly gripping. Feb 27, 2020 Full Review Amy Nicholson I.E. Weekly Despite the audacious title and premise, Range doesn't aim to shock, but to unnerve Rated: B Jul 2, 2009 Full Review David Edelstein New York Magazine/Vulture What's missing is shapeliness, suspense, narrative cunning, visual flair -- in short, art. Are we really to believe that a network of the future would broadcast such a barbiturate? Oct 30, 2006 Full Review David Walsh World Socialist Web Site The film makes the critics nervous primarily because it points to processes that the US media prefers to ignore or conceal ... America seethes with unresolved political and social contradictions. Feb 14, 2021 Full Review Fernando F. Croce CinePassion Easily the year's most useless picture Aug 28, 2009 Full Review Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com Beyond the feigned controversy stirred up by neocon zealots, "Death of a President" is nothing more than a high concept political hypothesis film that signals the futility of presidential assassination. Rated: C- Apr 24, 2009 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member I am surprised at the low rating given by the critics. I thought this was an excellent movie, well produced and will messages that are still relevant. It is extremely believable. Cheney's attempts to focus on Syria, the fact Zikri was kept in jail even though the authorities knew he was innocent - compare that with the length of time people were kept locked in Guantanamo Bay for being in the wrong place at the wrong time - this movie is only too believable. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/13/23 Full Review Audience Member Mockumentary, speculative fiction and social commentary combine to fuse an effectively told story about the imagined assassination of George W. Bush in 2007. The realism achieved by convincingly doctored news and stock footage can be chilling at times. Heightening the believability are the non-actory performances, particularly those of James Urbaniak (from Henry Fool) and M. Neko Parham. I remember this film getting panned when it came out (during GW's term). Perhaps we were all too close to the subject matter at the time to get it or maybe it seemed like too much of an affront to our then current administration. Either way, looks like this mockumentary aged well. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/19/23 Full Review Audience Member It is a shame to see such obviously talented writers and film makers manufacture such garbage. I suppose this film went over well within Code Pink, but for those of us not scared to call a spade a spade, or a Muslim extremist a terrorist, then don't waste your time and certainly please do not waste your money. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Audience Member There are a few good moments in this alternate history drama shot like a documentary. The problem is you have to really pull off the film to not make it seem like you are just using the premise for shock value. The way this goes is ultimately a letdown. Despite all the amateurs it had some good acting though. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 01/29/23 Full Review richard d A great mockumentary about the assassination of President George W. Bush. I was surprised how great the editing is. If you are interested in editing or sound design this is a must see. The story is tasteful. I'm convinced that if President Bush was assassinated, that this is what would have happened. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member It was pretty amusing-some of the video footage looked a little shady, but I thought it was worth my time. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/23/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Death of a President

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Movie Info

Synopsis Documentary filmmakers recount the events leading up to and following the fictionalized assassination of President George W. Bush in 2007. Jamal Abu Kikri, a Syrian national, is hastily fingered as the main suspect, and President Dick Cheney expands governmental power to fight terrorism at home with Patriot Act III. But as Kikri stands trial for the crime, another credible suspect looms into view.
Director
Gabriel Range
Producer
Simon Finch, Ed Guiney, Robin Gutch, Gabriel Range
Screenwriter
Simon Finch, Gabriel Range
Distributor
Newmarket Film Group
Production Co
Channel 4 (England), Borough Films
Rating
R (Brief Violent Images)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Arabic
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 27, 2006, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 23, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA)
$167.0K
Runtime
1h 33m
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