The Kennedys

A review by Zach Foster

What was a post-production project scrapped by the History Channel was rescued and given a home by the REELZ channel, a cable film network with some behind-the-scenes shows about movies and red carpet affairs.  After seeing the 8-part miniseries The Kennedys, my feelings are mixed.  The show definitely had its high points, but there were certain details that were annoying during the first two episodes that took a while to get used to.

I wasn’t a fan of the pace or the editing.  While I do understand and enjoy flashbacks in film and television, the writers and editors really rode the flashbacks horse and ran it ragged.  In the first two episodes, whose setting is the eve of Election Day 1960, the series covers a few election events and within minutes flashes back to Joe Kennedy’s career as an ambassador, then forward to John F. Kennedy’s 1952 Senate race, then forward to the 1960 election, then back to World War II.  Believe me, it got old FAST.  The editing and pace aside, the content itself kept me with the series, and the best part is that every detail of this complete soap opera was true.

Some of the juicy events within the Kennedy dynasty include, but are not limited to: Joe Kennedy Sr.’s obsession and borderline fanatical crusade in living vicariously through his sons by making them politicians (whether they wanted it or not); the sibling rivalry between JFK and Joe Jr. during the war, which led to Joe Jr. getting killed; Joe Sr. and JFK’s addiction to extramarital sexual conquest; drug use being the norm in the White House; intense rivalries between the Kennedys and members of the Cabinet; Rose’s lobotomy; Frank Sinatra’s secret mobster deals; Marilyn Monroe’s obsession with the Kennedys...  The list goes on.

Tom Wilkinson played a good Joe Kennedy Sr.  Though it seemed as if his Boston accent periodically slipped back to British, Wilkinson successfully portrayed Joe Kennedy’s shrewd and unapologetic manner.  The series was honest about Joe’s flaws and his determination to settle problems by writing a fat check.

Katie Holmes played a decent Jackie Kennedy.  Though Jackie is a major character throughout the series, she remains a static character—always trying to be a good First Lady and doing her best to deal with JFK’s indiscretions—which is too bad, since I like Katie Holmes and wish she’d had a better role in which to shine.

Greg Kinnear surprised me by playing a good JFK.  He had the accent, vocal tonality, and the mannerisms down, and his chemistry with the other actors was excellent.  He was able to portray a loving father, guilty husband, fallible leader, courageous leader, and left me generally pleased with his performance.

Barry Pepper’s portrayal of Robert Kennedy was superb in every way—he nailed the role of RFK.  He had the facial expressions, voice, an outstanding accent, and unlike Kinnear’s solid performance, Pepper’s acting had me genuinely moved and I remained with the series principally to see his performance.  For those who don’t know him by name, he played the sniper in Saving Private Ryan.  His performance carried the series.

After the editing and the pace, which occasionally had me feeling dizzy, I have one major criticism for the writers.  WHERE WAS TED KENNEDY?  It seems as if he would have been an important character, since Joe Sr. also was Ted’s puppet master and had him running to fill JFK’s Senate seat just after the Presidential election.  I know for a fact that some of Senator Chappaquiddick’s drama would have added additional flavor to the series, if only the writers and producers hadn’t pretended that he never existed.

I appreciated the series for what it was: neither an exposé nor an apology, but an effort to take an honest look at the lives and times, including both the good and the bad, of one of the most influential American families and political dynasties that created a legacy and made history time and again.  I rate the series at 6 out of 10.  It’s worth watching at least once.