Chuck Workman's 'In Search of Kennedy' Doc to Premiere at Seattle Fest on June 13 and 14

LOS ANGELES, CA--(MARKET WIRE)--May 5, 2008 -- "In Search of Kennedy," the latest theatrical documentary from Academy Award® winner Chuck Workman, will have its world premiere at the Seattle International Film Festival on June 13 and 14. The film takes a 21st Century look back at the life, legacy and myth of President Kennedy from the perspective of today's heated presidential campaign. Its subject, while inspired by the past, is as fresh as today's headlines, with the film exploring the candidacy of the leading presidential contenders and their comparisons to the JFK legacy.

In addition to some rarely seen footage of Kennedy, the documentary features interviews with more than 50 luminaries such as Norman Mailer, Tom Hayden, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Michael Moore, Garrison Keillor, Chris Matthews, Arianna Huffington and Senators Edward Kennedy, Joseph Biden and Chris Dodd. Alec Baldwin and Elisabeth Peña speak the words of prominent writers.

Workman, who wrote and directed "In Search of Kennedy" over a three-year period, received his Oscar® for his live action short "Precious Images." He has received numerous Emmy® nominations for his work on the Academy's Oscar® show.

Previously, Workman produced and directed two critically acclaimed theatrical documentaries, on two other '60s icons, "Superstar: The Life and Times of Andy Warhol" (1990) and "The Source" (1999), about the Beat Generation and Jack Kerouac.

Producers Workman and Stephen J. Kern will be in Seattle to attend the premiere of "In Search of Kennedy." Worldwide distributions rights remain available, with an anticipated Fall 2008 US theatrical release in time for the film to capitalize on this year's presidential election.

NOTE TO PRESS: Chuck Workman is available for advance telephone interviews.

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Prost Amerika — Seattle’s Film News and Review Site

In Search of Kennedy (USA/Germany 2008) 
Director: Chuck Workman

It must be hard to find something new to say about John F Kennedy, far less make an entire movie about him. There have been more documentaries and movies made about the 35th president than any other, yet Workman manages to keep the subject fresh with a couple of unique features amongst the stock demonstrations of how much hope he engendered at the time. It isn’t easy to look at this film without making comparisons between Kennedy and Obama, and the filmmakers may regard the timing of their release as either unfortunate or very fortunate indeed.

The film is sub-divided into five parts, ‘The Myth’, ‘The President’, ‘The Present’, ‘The World’, and ‘The Legacy’. Occasionally the film delves into political science fiction when it uses fake news programs to report on a world in which Kennedy survives the assassination. Credit to Workman for finding a new angle, but he takes a risk in temporarily abandoning the role of documentarian for that of soothsayer. Some may wonder what the point of the ‘Bring Back Jack’ segment is. It won’t work for some , but we are immediately brought us back with a bump to reality in part four where the film looks at how the world saw the USA during Kennedy’s short years in power. You can only wonder how likely a repeat of the ticker tape welcome in Venezuela would be nowadays.

In addition to Bill Clinton, Alec Baldwin and Chris Matthews, Workman has acquired contributions from James Carville, Al Franken, Senator Tom Hayden, Tim Shriver, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Arianna Huffington, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Garrison Keillor, Congressman Dennis Kucinich and Norman Mailer.

Overall this is a highly entertaining documentary and very timely too. If there is one criticism it may be that the film tries too hard to be unique in one of the most saturated fields. But for many that would be a bonus, and may add to the film’s allure.

PA Guide 7/10

Seattle P.I.

The Kennedy spirit — Filmmaker Chuck Workman is internationally known for making extremely short films composed of clips from great Hollywood movies: "Fifty Years of Bugs Bunny in 3 1/2 Minutes" (1989), "Precious Images" (1986), an Oscar-winning montage of sublime movie moments; and "The Spirit of America" (2001), a three-minute, post-9/11 montage of movie scenes demonstrating "the unique American spirit."

But Workman is at the festival this weekend to introduce his feature documentary "In Search of Kennedy" (today, 4 p.m., Egyptian; Saturday, 7 p.m., SIFF Cinema). Using poignant footage from Kennedy family films, interviews (with Norman Mailer, Garrison Keillor, Tom Hayden) and readings (by Martin Sheen, Adam Baldwin, Elizabeth Peña), the film is a free-flowing examination of President John F. Kennedy -- the man, the myth and the legacy. It speculates on how American history might be different had Kennedy lived through his term, and wonders if the 1960s would have happened in anything near the same way.

For better or worse, Workman is not a bit interested in Kennedy's sex life and he doesn't have an obvious political agenda; he's more interested in Kennedy as a cultural phenomenon. But he does leave us with the distinct impression that JFK's greatest gift -- his ability to talk straight and inspire Americans toward self-sacrifice -- are elements that have been sorely missing in U.S. presidential politics since Nov. 22, 1963. The film could serve as a subtle-but-effective campaign ad for Barak Obama.

Read entire review...