Parkland

Parkland
Directed by Peter Landesman
Starring Zac Efron, Colin Hanks, Tom Welling, Paul Giamatti, Billy Bob Thornton
In UK Cinemas November 22nd, 2013

by Joanna Orland

Americana cinema has a love affair with a piece of American history that will live on in people’s minds for decades to come – the assassination of JFK. There have been various counts of media written and filmed about the historic event, with Oliver Stone’s conspiracy theory film starring Kevin Costner as the most prominent piece. Parkland revisits this story of JFK’s assassination, but rather than focusing on the conspiracy or the politics, it focuses on the people surrounding the event and how it affects them each personally.

The film is done in a rather flowing montage style with a consistent soundtrack as accompaniment. In spite of this rather loose flow, there isn’t one character that doesn’t engage the audience. We care about each and every one of them. And there are many of them. This is an ensemble cast to rival the most complex of Robert Altman films.

Parkland is the hospital where both JFK and Lee Harvey Oswald were taken after they were each shot. The cast of medical staff trying to save their lives include pretty boy Zac Efron, Marcia Gay Harden and Colin Hanks. Secret Service staff includes Billy Bob Thornton and Tom Welling. Civilians include Paul Giamatti. Oswald’s family includes the wonderful Jacki Weaver as his mother in a bit of an offbeat role.

This film brought tears to the eyes. It is heartfelt and moving. Who knew that there was still more to tell about this story?