Crimes of the Century: The Shooting of Ronald Reagan (2013)
This episode in the eight-part CNN special series takes a look at John Hinckley, Jr.'s failed attempt to assassinate President Ronald Reagan in hopes that he could impress actress Jodie Foster. The documentary takes us through what set Hinckley off, his obsession with TAXI DRIVER and how he ended up with a gun in his hand only feet away from the President. Once again CNN has delivered a documentary that doesn't really tell us anything that we didn't already know but it's just so well-made and interesting that it's easy to forget you've heard anything you're listening to and you can just sit back and enjoy it. It's still rather amazing seeing a real life creep who becomes so obsessed with someone that they try to kill the President for her. As the secret service agent in the film says, everyone would think the assassination attempt would be for something political yet in the end it was for love. There are interview clips with the secret service as well as archival clips of Reagan on Larry King Live where he talks about his memories of the event. The only thing missing was more follow-up on what has happened to Hinckley over the past three decades.
8/10
This episode in the eight-part CNN special series takes a look at John Hinckley, Jr.'s failed attempt to assassinate President Ronald Reagan in hopes that he could impress actress Jodie Foster. The documentary takes us through what set Hinckley off, his obsession with TAXI DRIVER and how he ended up with a gun in his hand only feet away from the President. Once again CNN has delivered a documentary that doesn't really tell us anything that we didn't already know but it's just so well-made and interesting that it's easy to forget you've heard anything you're listening to and you can just sit back and enjoy it. It's still rather amazing seeing a real life creep who becomes so obsessed with someone that they try to kill the President for her. As the secret service agent in the film says, everyone would think the assassination attempt would be for something political yet in the end it was for love. There are interview clips with the secret service as well as archival clips of Reagan on Larry King Live where he talks about his memories of the event. The only thing missing was more follow-up on what has happened to Hinckley over the past three decades.
8/10
