On Trial: Lee Harvey Oswald

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Audience Member This is an odd and oddly compelling mix of entertainment and history. Staged 20 years after the assassination of John F. Kennedy, it's a slimmed down version of what the trail would have been with two real-life attorneys, Vincent Bugliosi (the Charles Manson prosecutor) and Gary Spence, hamming it up, especially Spence. {One of the side attractions of the movie are the mid-1980s fashions, particularly of the men. The long, puffy hair, the vested suits....} But what raises this above being a carny sideshow is the presence of the real-life eyewitnesses to the killing and cops, investigators and scientists who gathered and examined the evidence. Ruth Payne's testimony is achingly vulnerable, yet it's clear she's no fool. Also, the film brings together many of the film clips of Oswald, Ruby and the assassination. (Seeing Kennedy's head explode from the fatal shot is hard to take when its shown over and over and over again.) I doubt whether this film has ever swayed anyone one way or the other, but it's a fascinating --- and particularly American --- exercise. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Read all reviews

On Trial: Lee Harvey Oswald

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