A time traveler goes back to 1963 to do some visual research on the Kennedy assassination in Dallas. He accidentally prevents Kennedy from being shot and ends up a hero. The problem is that the balance of time has been ripped and Kennedy's survival causes tremendous harm. The immutability of time makes any of these types of portrayals suspect, but this is done with great intelligence and care. Also, the acting is very good. In "Button, Button," Mare Winningham plays a beady eyed, cynical wife to a weak willed man. They tolerate each other and that's about it. One day, a tall, middle aged man brings in a "button unit." It is a single red button under a plastic dome. If the recipient pushes the button, some random person will die and the button pusher will receive 200,000 dollars. The two of them jockey around their disturbing world and try to decide what to do. It's a really cool problem to face.
Review of Profile in Silver/Button, Button
