Self-important, over-dramatic, uninspired.

brilliant actors, brilliant editing

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Well, the title of this review is no more true than the film. Because this is a mocks entry about the man who claims to be the second gunman from the tragic assassination of Kennedy back in November 22nd 1963. This film is made out just like a documentary in style, and is first feature if what wax to become a great film maker, Neil Burger. At least I think so, because he's the director behind Limitless, The Illusionist and The lucky ones. There's most certainly more interesting films to come."I was a sick fu@@ back then" he says, the second assassin, Walter Ohliger, played by Raymond J. Barry. Filmed in Dallas, with the on location spots where it all happened, back in 1963.There is a strange weakness with this film, though, and that is that this was more interesting before the 50 year revival of the whole thing. I just saw all of the other film about what happened, and this fall a bit down as a novelty dud to that. It doesn't add to the alleged mysteries about the case in the same way as it did before all the anniversary. Some of the tension had been taken away from it.The film is very well acted. It's greatly depicted, just like an ordinary documentary would have been. On the other hand the film gets more interesting when it comes to the uncertainty of what's going to happen filming these ins and persons. Because there's more than one occurring.Well done, and a great debut feature, even if it hasn't held the same interest after the anniversary.

It felt real to me I found myself believing every word Walter said. Even if the guy was nuts his skill and knowledge pointed to the fact that he could have killed JFK. He knew the scene of the crime very well ( And I don't mean from a spectators POV) To much evidence proves that he was the second shooter. The way it was shot helped the overall look of the film. I actually felt like I was watching a documentary until the cast credit came up at the end. Then I realized that this was a filmmakers recount on the actual confession. Many other forms of media have been created about the JFK murder but this one really stole the show for me. I also enjoyed the fact that a former American hero of the marines would actually be the guy to secure supreme power by killing the president. I got to say the scene towards the end where Walter is proving he done it by getting a gun into the white house and about to shoot another president was totally crazy in all the right ways.

After viewing the intriguing and well-done ILLUSIONIST, my next stop was to look at Neil Burger's first film. Like his well-known movie about magic, the first major picture he directed also deals with illusion and truth. This time he sets his aim at a mock documentary about the Kennedy Assassination. Raymond Barry plays a crusty and dangerous shadowy figure named Ohlinger who recounts to an unemployed television cameraman that he is the alleged "Second Gunman" at the Grassy Knoll in Dallas. From here the younger man becomes sucked into conspiracy, odd happenings, and culminates with apparent murder and a possible second presidential assassination attempt. Burger weaves this with clever technique, building a more and more credible and incredible narrative. As one early character notes, all this is quite dangerous. But the cameraman's ambition supersedes his judgment, and he follows the mad gun man to the ultimate end. What Burger has done with a small budget and two effective lead actors is truly delightful. For those who want clever use of cameras, enjoy the possibilities of history, and cherish the notion of seeing a brilliant and talented director unfolding before our eyes, this film is worth it. Based on this and the ILLUSIONIST, Neil Burger is a fresh talent who deserves our full attention.

Raymond J Barry carrying his paranoia like a badge of honor takes us for a extraordinary ride of the creepiest kind. Feeding into our own fascination with all the conspiracy theories surrounding the JFK assassination. Neil Burger brilliantly concocts a mock documentary that feels truer than most real documentaries and I was taken in, totally. I felt as eager to get to the mysterious John Seymour as the interviewer - a splendid Dylan Haggerthy -. The interview of the assassin's ex wife, played chillingly real by Kate Williamson, is a little gem on its own and the performances, if you can call them that, are uniformly startling, embedded in that, clumsy but undeniable truth that only non professional actors are capable of. Recommended for Unsolved Mysteries junkies as well as for film lovers everywhere