Plot: What’s it about?
On November 22, 1963, the cavalcade of onlookers and supporters for President John F. Kennedy was substantial, but one single man in the crowd would become the main focus. In truth, it would be the camera of that single man, as he ran his tape and captured the assassination of Kennedy, which shocked an entire nation. The man behind the camera was Abraham Zapruder, who wanted to gather footage to share with his grandchildren, but instead, his reel would be shown across the country and soon, to the entire world. Of all the eye witness accounts, ghost stories, and rumors that stretched from that event, the footage from Zapruder’s camera would serve as the sole unbiased witness to the tragic killing. So when the controversies and talk of conspiracies began to swirl around, Zapruder’s footage would become a document very crucial to the case, as it shows that some doubt can be made as to what happened that afternoon. Now, thanks to a complete digital overhaul and a wealth of outside source accounts, we can look at this footage and decide for ourselves.
This is one review where I am pretty sure all readers have seen the goods, so I think you know the basics here. Now you might not have seen this entire presentation before, but chances are, you’ve seen clips from the Zapruder film, so the basic ground is covered here. The actual film is very short and shows only a brief passage of time, but it stands as a most crucial document, even to this day. In this eighty-eight minute showcase, you’ll learn about all aspects of the Zapruder film, what the camera operator did before and after the incident, hear several standpoints on what the tape holds, and also see what went to the digital process to restore and preserve the fleeting moments seen within the footage. I am always interested in a good conspiracy issue and if ever there was one, this is it and this program provides some fodder to place your doubts within. Now of course, this piece offers no real proof of what happened on that infamous date, but it does raise some viable questions, as well as give a look inside the process used to ensure the survival of the footage, for future generations to ponder. If you’re a conspiracy buff or you’re just interested in the topic, this disc would make a very good rental, or purchase if you’re that interested.
Video: How does it look?
Image Of An Assassin is shown in the intended full frame form, as it was shown on television. As you can imagine, the image varies from time to time, since the materials have been pulled from various sources of various conditions. The archive footage seems a little worn, but looks better than you might expect, while the newer stock looks more refined, as well as sharper. The actual Zapruder tape looks better than it has before, but again, keep in mind the source here and the age involved. In the end, this is an above average presentation and should be good enough for those interested.
Audio: How does it sound?
I knew this material didn’t have much demand for audio prowess and I was right, as the included stereo track was more than adequate. As with the video, the audio varies from source to source, but turns out well enough in the end. All the elements are in fine form here, perhaps not a memorable mix, but a more than stable one overall. You can also enable subtitles in English, Spanish, French, and German, should you need them.
Supplements: What are the extras?
I didn’t expect much in terms of extras, but this disc contains a decent selection of goodies. You’ll find some informative bios on Abraham Zapruder and those who put this program together, four additional video clips related to this event, a timeline of events concerning the Zapruder film, and four different perspectives to view the film in, very cool stuff.
