Killing Reagan (2016 TV Movie) User Reviews

"You wouldn't want to talk me into an encore, would you?" - President Ronald Reagan

[classicsoncall · 8/10 · 27 March 2018]

My summary line would have been "I forgot to duck" by the President to his wife at the hospital, but his opening remark to a joint session of Congress upon his return seemed more appropriate. The man had a great sense of humor, as evidenced also by the way he summed up his Alzheimer's diagnosis. That wasn't in the film, but reportedly he stated that 'he'll get to meet new people every day'.

For students of history, and even for those who aren't, this presentation of "Killing Reagan" was as best as I can tell, a faithful rendering of the events before, during and after the failed assassination attempt by the troubled John Hinckley Jr. (Kyle S. More). Some viewers will undoubtedly be confused by the opening of the story when it appears that Hinckley was stalking President Jimmy Carter. That scene reinforces the idea that Hinckley was not acting out a politically or ideologically motivated assassination attempt, and as the story goes on to reveal, he was fully obsessed with the idea of impressing actress Jodie Foster to notice and acknowledge him as a worthy suitor.

The one fact to come out of this documentary-like program that I must have missed during the news coverage at the time was the information about the bullet that injured the President. It actually ricocheted off the Presidential limousine that he was about to enter for his next stop. I'm puzzled about that now and wonder how I missed that information at the time. The other notable item about this presentation was the way it humanized the First Lady. Accounts of the era depicted Nancy Reagan as almost a Svengali type of character who shielded her husband from bad news and detractors within his circle. The business about her reliance on astrology is given appropriate consideration without making her seem extreme in her beliefs.

Over all, I thought this was a well done treatment of the Reagan/Hinckley story, based on the Bill O'Reilly book as part of his 'Killing' series. There were critics of the book who thought O'Reilly didn't play fair with Reagan's Alzheimer period, but that didn't seem to come into play here. For anyone who wasn't around or wasn't paying attention in 1981, this is about the best one can hope for in describing the events as they occurred. Without actually being there, one gets a pretty good bird's eye look at the behind the scenes care given President Reagan and the way his Cabinet responded to what could have been another black day in the history of the country.

A Well-Acted Depiction of What Could Have Been Another Dallas, November 22, 1963

[classicalsteve · 8/10 · 24 October 2016]

In the 19th century, stories abound of President Abraham Lincoln walking down the streets of Washington D.C., unworried about his safety, even though several million southern soldiers were pledged to kill him. (Alexander Gardner had taken what turned out to be Lincoln's last photograph, and the president had walked to the photo studio.) The Secret Service did not yet exist, and when it was inaugurated two months after Lincoln's assassination, it was not an operation to protect the president, but a federal investigatory unit to combat currency counterfeiting. One hundred years later, particularly after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, ensuring the safety of the US President became a 24/7 job. What changed? Probably the biggest difference is the president's perpetual presence in national and international media, in the newspapers but mostly on television. Interestingly, television and film actors have the same problem: because of hyped media, there are people in the world, some of whom are not playing with a full deck, who become obsessed with media figures.

The made-for-cable film, "Killing Reagan", focuses on the events just before, during and after John Hinckley (Kyle S. More) attempted to assassinate then US President Ronald Reagan outside a Hilton Hotel in Washington D.C. only two months into his presidency in 1981. Hinckley was a disturbed young man not obsessed with Reagan per se, but instead with actress Jodi Foster. He was also obsessed with the film "Taxi Driver" starring Robert De Niro and also a very young Jodi Foster in a supporting role. In the film, the protagonist Travis Bickle fantasizes about plotting the assassination of a presidential candidate. Hinckley convinced himself that he could win over Foster's admiration by killing President Reagan, which given Foster's attitudes towards tougher gun restrictions, seems at face value absurd. However, stalkers live in their own "truth".

The film mainly reveals much of the behind-the-scenes activity surrounding the assassination attempt which came very close to being a replay of Dallas in November, 1963, when President John F. Kennedy was shot and killed by deranged assassin Lee Harvey Oswald. Oswald was 24 when he killed Kennedy (and was killed shortly thereafter by a local nightclub owner, Jack Ruby), and Hinckley was 25 when he shot Reagan. According to the film, Hinckley had been "stalking" President Carter during his reelection campaign, again probably inspired by "Taxi Driver". He moves to New Haven, CT, where Foster was an undergraduate, and constantly calls her and sends her postcards and letters. However, Hinckley's moves are never reciprocated, only rebuffed.

On the other side of the tracks is President Ronald Reagan (Tim Matheson in a convincing performance) and Nancy Reagan (Cynthia Nixon in what could be an Emmy-nominated performance) and their cabinet heads. What the public may not have known is how close another US President came to dying in office not two decades from the last time. In a split-second decision that influenced world history in the wake of the attempt, Jerry Parr (Joe Chrest), after noticing the president coughing up blood, changed the direction of the car from the White House to George Washington University Hospital, which was less than 4 minutes from the Hilton. Even when Reagan entered the hospital, it wasn't certain he would live, as the surgery to remove the bullet turned out to be far more problematic than anticipated. Some contradictory reports had been issued by the press, at first that Reagan had not been hit but later that he had. While in surgery, several of Reagan's cabinet members bicker about who is in charge, since then Vice President George HW Bush was in Air Force Two in Texas.

A good cast tells a very compelling and interesting story about one of the scariest episodes of the 1980's. Many who were alive at the time remember vividly the assassination of John F. Kennedy which, for some of them like my parents, seemed not that long in the past. I hadn't been born when JFK was assassinated, but I was in Junior High School at the time of Reagan's brush with death, and I remember where I was when I heard the news of the shooting. Although it didn't receive nearly as much publicity, President Barack Obama was shot at during his first term in office on the presidential balcony at the White House. The shot completely missed but only by inches. If there's anything which can be said of holding the office of US President, it's a dangerous job.

Quite scary and thorough

[phd_travel · 8/10 · 27 October 2019]

Even though you know what happens the movie was exciting. The movie follows Reagan just before election to the first few months in office. Concurrently we get a look a the mental state of John Hinckley Jr's point of view and misguided motivation. It's scary how he slipped through the cracks. The actual shooting and scenes at the hospital are thorough and clear.

Liked the way they show the different players in the White House. Cynthia Nixon doesn't look or act like Nancy. The wig and outfits don't help. Tim Mathison acts and talks like Reagan even if he is younger.

Worth watching.

A Bit Biased, But With Superb Performances And A Good Reflection On Both Reagan and Hinckley

[sddavis63 · 9/10 · 20 October 2016]

This movie has an obvious bias, and portrays Ronald Reagan in a very favourable light. That shouldn't come as too much of a surprise. It's based on a book by Bill O'Reilly, who's well known as a conservative commentator who - just because of those ideological leanings - would be expected to be sympathetic to Reagan. I don't have too much of a position on Reagan. I'm not an American and never had to make a decision on whether or not to vote for him. There were probably a lot of policies I would have disagreed with, but I would say that by Reagan's own standards he was probably a successful president. He did restore a certain sense of greatness to the United States after the corruption of Watergate, the debacle of Vietnam, and the advances of the Soviet Union during the Cold War. And, of course, while it didn't happen until a few years after he left office, he laid the groundwork for the end of the Cold War by engaging in an arms race with the Soviet Union that the Soviet economy couldn't keep up with. So while I may not be entirely in agreement, I can understand those like O'Reilly who would have a pro-Reagan bias, and it didn't detract from this movie in any way. In the context of this movie, I thought Reagan came across as in control and strong.

On March 30, 1981 - a little over two months after taking office, Reagan was shot by a would be assassin named John Hinckley. Hinckley had no political agenda. He was just a disturbed young man with few prospects and not much interested in accomplishing anything - except that he was fixated on actress Jodie Foster, and thought that killing the president would make her notice him. This movie clearly portrays the seriousness of the shooting - which at the time was downplayed by most people - and makes clear that Reagan's life was very much in danger as he lay on the operating table. It also, I thought, offered a good look into the lives of both Hinckley and Reagan. I came away from this thinking that I knew both of them at least a little better than when it started. There was also a very solid depiction of the jockeying for position behind the scenes as the president was out of commission - highlighted, of course, by Secretary of State Alexander Haig's famous "I am in control" statement to the press. Personally, I thought perhaps the most poignant moment of the whole movie came as a reflection to that event, after Reagan had recovered and was back at work and decided to send a personal letter to Soviet president Brezhnev. Haig objected to the letter and wanted it redrafted, only to have Reagan insist on having it sent as he had written it and then icily remind Haig that "as far as I know, I am in control here." On the other hand, it was a bit disconcerting to hear the president of the United States referring to his wife as "mommy." Perhaps that reflected the nature of the dependence that Reagan had on Nancy in many ways. The portrayal of Nancy by Cynthia Nixon was interesting. There was a softer feel to Nancy than is often the case, although it was jarring to see her with Sarah Brady at the hospital after the shooting as both of their husbands were being operated on. James Brady was Reagan's press secretary, and was shot in the head by Hinckley. After Reagan came out of surgery, Nancy just says to Sarah (after they had been comforting each other) "I'm going home now," and Sarah is left completely alone in the hospital chapel, not knowing if her husband would live or die. That seemed very cold.

The performances here were outstanding. In the lead roles both Tim Matheson as Reagan and Kyle S. More as Hinckley were convincing, and the supporting cast held up their parts. This really is a well done movie. I have not read O'Reilly's book of the same name (although I have read O'Reilly's "Killing Lincoln") but I would think he was pleased with this adaptation. (9/10)

Best movie on Bill's books on the Killing Series

[mm-39 · 9/10 · 17 October 2016]

Best movie on Bill O's of all the movies from the Killing series. Great acting by Tim Matheson who actually acted like the former president. Cynthia Nixon is a believable Nancy. The breake down to the Reagan attempted assassination is detailed, believable and accurate. The minor actors where believable as Haig, Meese, etc. The situation room, the panic, the decision unfolds like a believable re-enactment. The viewer see the faults, complexities, and strengthens of Reagan and the administration from the start to later on during the administration. Killing Reagan movie is directed and acted like a history documentary. Made in the third person where the viewer is watching as the events unfold. Ended strong with real footage of Reagan. I give Killing Reagan 9 out of 10 stars.

Complete garbage

[chrlsfrgsn · 1/10 · 5 July 2020]

This movie does nothing but trash one of the greatest Presidents in History.

The Movie Goes Well Beyond The Story About The Attempted Assassination

[Fredtimbo · 9/10 · 9 July 2017]

Had I known Ridley Scott and Rod Lurie were involved with Killing Reagan I would have watched the movie months ago. But the real surprise was Tim Matheson and Cynthia Nixon's superb performances and endearing portrayal of the first couple. From the director of The Contender, another one of my favorite movies, Killing Reagan is one of the best docudramas ever.

A Must Watch

[transitdriver1-616-160609 · 10/10 · 20 October 2016]

God I loved that man he was my very first vote for a republican/conservative for president of the United States of America, when I was able to vote for the very first time back in 1980 it was a challenge within my soul and my conscience, I never steered away from his word now 36 years later, now a grandfather and American, will their every be another Ronald Reagan only god knows for sure I trust Mr.Bill O'Reilly and his internal facts as I've known President Reagan's external facts all good I pray before my death that I'm able to witness another great leader but as it goes now? GOD HELP US ALL. This has to be the all mighty best made for t.v. bio. a must watch for those on the left and the right!