There is a fine line between “serious documentary” and “rabid attack on alleged American Nazis based on spurious claims.” Documentary maker John Hankey apparently never noticed that line when he tripped over it and brought his conspiracy theory into the land of the ludicrous.
It’s not that conspiracy theories are bad things. Some of them inform us or introduce new thinking, others entertain about long-forgotten historic events, while others make us laugh out loud. The theory that John F. Kennedy, Jr., may have been assassinated is an interesting one because of the Kennedy family history and the viewer’s knowledge that it could happen.
The Assassination of JFK Jr. does not serve itself well. With animations an eight-year-old could have accomplished with a PCjr and the inclusion of cartoon characters from The Simpsons and The Fairly Odd Parents, it provokes laughter instead of deep consideration of its premise. Inflammatory claims, outrageous insults, and baseless assertions round out the “evidence.” Because it is all so blatant, The Assassination of JFK Jr. provides the audience with an entertainment vehicle equal to an Ed Wood movie. It may be bad, but it’s hilariously so.
Tying in the death of JFK Jr., the assassinations of JFK Sr., and RFK (yes, even Lincoln!), and the tragedy of 9/11, The Assassination of JFK Jr. is little more than an overdone rant, like the ravings of a lunatic (if lunatics still rave). Its sole redeeming value is that it may inspire some viewers to do a little research on their own into this American tragedy, ascertaining if the information provided—while stimulating—is factual. As an alternative to watching a ridiculously bad movie for laughs, it amuses; as serious journalism, it fails.
More specifically, it fails spectacularly. The juvenile assaults on the documentary makers’ “persons of interest” are funny because they are so inexpertly done. Photographs of Bush family members are treated to bushy mustaches and accompanied by the theme from The Godfather, while most of the other alleged conspirators are wearing red armbands with swastikas. Like so many of the visuals, these are Photoshopped in, and one hopes their amateurish look was intentional, although the silliness does nothing to promote confidence in the allegations made. The verbal assaults are so extreme, they come across as an attempt at humor.
.jpg?t=20130517094513)
Article comments
1 - charlie doherty
I tore this Hankey guy up in replies to emails he sent me regarding conspiracies involving JFK and even President Obama when he was still running for the high office. Don't know why I was on the receiving end of his crazy crap in the first place.
Anyway, John Hankey really is a joke and has no business calling himself a documentarian.
Great review.
2 - tim
While the conspiracy theory may be questionable in itself, it wouldn't surprise me at all if John was bumped off...he would have had the entire state of NY in his corner had he run for that senate seat instead of Hillary C.
3 - S,Coogan
I did one of the first reviews of Hankey's work. It can be found at CTKA. It deals with his first work JFK II and his other piece Dark Legacy which was written by Jim DiEugenio. More recently Hankey who is friends with the god awful Paul Kangas attacked DiEugenio and myself on a radio show as being operatives....We had to be because we questioned his research methods and ability. Which this perceptive review has duly noted. Wander along to CTKA and see what else we have to say.