Executive Action (1973)

Executive Action is JFK two decades before the fact. Instead of feeling like a blatent conspiracy theory, it presents facts in conjunction with real footage, enhanced with a compelling "what-if" situation, to convey a shockingly realistic idea of what really happened in the grassy knoll. Interestingly enough, the protagonists of the film are the right-wing conspirators who used political reasonings to justify the murder of President Kennedy. While there is an extreme sense of injustice regarding the ease at which the politicos sort out the assassination, there is also a strange sense of sympathy. This can be attributed to the acting talents of Burt Lancaster, Robert Ryan, and Will Geer (amongst others). Burt Lancaster has always been one of my favorite actors. His dedication to the portrayal of vital roles and characters is always a shining moment on the screen. And it seems that as he got older, this gift of his just became more delightful to watch. Even in a bleakly honest portrayal of a president's assassination, Lancaster lightens up the screen and makes the film truth. The story may not be true or even warranted. The film may make the scandal seem like a forever-unsolved mystery that can only be speculated about. It may even put the government in an unnecessary bad light. All in all, though, Executive Action entertains and educates. It exists to answer a question with another question. It exists to make one think and feel; that is where the success of the film lies. Overall rating: 7.5 out of 10