A New Frontier

Author(s): D.W. Dillon
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada

“A New Frontier”

Directed by Warren Beatty
Written by Steve Zaillian
Music by John Williams
Produced by Alan Parker & Warren Beatty

Principal Cast:

Warren Beatty - President John F. Kennedy
Catherine Zeta-Jones - Jacqueline Kennedy
Patrick Wilson - Robert F. Kennedy
Kelly Carlson - Judith Cambell
Bill Murray - Sec. Of State Dean Rusk
Donald Sutherland - Lyndon B. Johnson
Richard Jenkins - General Paul Harkin
Ed Harris - General Maxwell Taylor
Sean Penn - Sec. Of Defense Robert McNamara
Kiefer Sutherland - Col. L. Fletcher Prouty
Isaiah Washington - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Brian Cox - Sen. Richard M. Nixon
Frank Langella - Sam Giancana
Joaquim de Almeida - Fidel Castro
Ed O'Ross - Nikita Khrushchev
Matthew Broderick - FBI Asst. Director Clyde Tolson
and
Nathan Lane as FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover

Tagline: "President John F. Kennedy 1963-1968"

Synopsis: John F. Kennedy (Warren Beatty) survives the Dallas assasination attempt, brings down conspirators, dismisses Lyndon B. Johnson (Donald Sutherland) as Vice President, and negotiates peace terms in Vietnam, Russia and Cuba, promoting civil rights in the U.S., all the while fighting a sex scandal against Richard Nixon (Brian Cox) and J. Edgar Hoover (Nathan Lane) and secretly battling Addison's Disease.

Outlined Events in the Film:
In 1963, three months prior to November 22 Col. L. Fletcher Prouty (Kiefer Sutherland) was re-assigned from arranging security detail for President Kennedy's motorcade in Dallas, Texas. Worried something was a-miss, he contacted Attorney General Robert Kennedy (Patrick Wilson) and Defense Secretary Robert McNamara (Sean Penn) who in-turn informed the president of the situation thus canceling his trip to Dallas.

The Vietnam conflict begins to intensify. The president comes under pressure from his Joints Chief of Staff and ground commander in Vietnam, General Harkin (Richard Jenkins). Kennedy now surrounds himself with only the closest and most trustworthy of friends and advisors. Respected General Maxwell Taylor (Ed Harris) assumes command of the Vietnam where he overseas special black op forces while Kennedy recalls 1000 troops from Vietnam per month, ending any serious military conflict.

Though saving millions of lives, Kennedy's decision to handle Vietnam comes under tremendous scrutiny as he is deemed too soft on Communism. Not only that, but his affair with mob girlfriend Judith Cambell (Kelly Carlson) has been leaked to the press with the help of J. Edgar Hoover (Nathan Lane) and Clyde Tolson (Matthew Broderick) who had been investigating Kennedy from the beginning. Marital troubles with wife Jacqueline (Catherine Zeta Jones) ensue as he faces a public sex scandal. Not only does it show Kennedy's infidelity but it also shows his ties to Chicago mob figure Sam Giancana (Frank Langella). Kennedy's popularity and approval rating decrease. His Addison's Disease begins to take his toll. A secret he's kept from the public since taking office.

With many against him, he focuses on worldly issues by working closely with Martin Luther King (Isiah Washington), providing him with security and funds to promote equal and civil rights. Money that would have been spent in Vietnam, and money that will also feed the the U.S. economy, balancing the national budget, and improving the inner cities. With Robert Kennedy, and Secretary of Defense McNamara, Kennedy begins intense sit-down meetings face to face with world leaders Fidel Castro (Joaquim de Almeida) of Cuba and Nikita Krushchev (Ed O'Ross) of Russia where they settle their differences and compromise by trying to understand each other's goals for their country instead of goals for other people's country's like Vietnam and Korea.

Though his reputation has been tarnished he manages to stay in office by the impeccable choices he made concerning the lives of everyone else. In his last year in office, the president succumbs to his illness and dies in the White House. Newly appointed Vice President Dean Rusk (Bill Murray) finishes the last few months of his term with Robert Kennedy waiting in the wings. A new frontier has begun.

What the press would say:

Sweeping epics aren't new to Warren Beatty (Reds) who takes the helm as the director of one of the most important films in our history. By parelleling the decisions that George W. Bush faced with war, and the scandals that burned Bill Clinton, Warren Beatty paints a beautiful picture of what could have happened. Using Kennedy's ideology, writer Steven Zaillian is able to convince us to believe in these events. An emotion he touched on with his previous Oscar-Igloo awarded script "I am a Patsy". A bold film that mirrors todays troubles in Iraq and maybe inspire a nation to improve, using our minds instead of our muscle. To save lives instead of risking them. It's not a film about what could have happened. It's not a film about an alternate universe. It's a message to the world. And for that reason alone, you must see it and believe it. Like Johnny Cash's blessing to cast Joaquin Phoenix in Walk The Line, John F. Kennedy gave Warren Beatty his blessing back in 1960 as the two once joked about a possible film on Kennedy over drinks. Beatty embarks on a the toughest role yet, playing a man who sacrifices his image to save lives, a dying man doing every last thing he can for the sake of the people. A long list of acclaimed actors grace this film with stand-out performances from Catherine Zeta-Jones as the estranged but loving and elegant wife Jacqueline and Ed Harris as the most trusted friend and General. Nathan Lane dives deep into the role that seemed to be made just for him as the cross-dressing FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover. A film so monumental and groundbreaking, accompanied by performances of a lifetime should easily be considered one of the best films ever.

Best Picture
Best Director - Warren Beatty
Best Actor - George Clooney
Best Actress - Catherine Zeta Jones
Best Supporting Actor - Ed Harris
Best Supporting Actor - Nathan Lane
Best Supporting Actress - Kelly Carlson
Best Original Screenplay - Steven Zaillian
Best Editing - Dede Allen (Reds)
Best Cinematography - Robert Richardson (JFK)
Best Score - John Williams (Jaws)
Best Costume Design - Coleen Atwood (Edward Scissorhands)
Best Art Direction - Alan Starski & Ewa Braun (Schindler's List)