Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 28, 1992 TAG: 9203280159
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MIKE MAYO CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The producers take such liberties with history that they've added a postscript admitting that much of the film, including one of the central characters, is fictional. What we're presented with, then, is yet another attempt at a Unified Conspiracy Theory with no evidence to back up its charges.
The title character is Jack Ruby (Danny Aiello), the Dallas burlesque club owner who shot Lee Harvey Oswald. As Stephen Davis's script puts it, Ruby was in thick with all the usual conspiracy suspects. He had connections in Cuba, with organized crime, FBI, CIA and the Dallas police force. He dealt drugs and even played a part in providing women to President Kennedy.
At the same time, he was a soft-hearted guy who didn't really like doing any of these uncouth activities. He doted on his two dogs, and was kind to wayward strippers like Candy Cane (Sherilyn Fenn) when he found her in a bus station.
For the first half of the film, Aiello's performance keeps the action moving. He's a complex, interesting character. Aiello really gets into the role. The scenes between him and Sherilyn Fenn have a real warmth to them. But as director John Mackenzie wades deeper into conspiratorial waters, the pace becomes sluggish and Ruby loses his individuality. He becomes just another pawn at the mercy of Sinister Forces, represented by a government spook who calls himself Maxwell (Arliss Howard).
By the end of the story, Ruby's motivation for killing Oswald is less than clear. The conspiracy elements have become so wildly tangled that even the most dubious skeptic may be forced to admit that maybe the Warren Commission was right.
As history, the film admits that it has nothing to offer. As entertainment, it's too slow and cliched to earn much of a recommendation. For Aiello fans only.
"Ruby" ** A Triumph release playing at Valley View 6. (362-8219) 108 min. Rated R for strong language, violence, subject matter. :wq! :wq! B/
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pawn at the mercy of Sinister Forces, represented by a government spook who calls himself Maxwell (Arliss Howard).
By the end of the story, Ruby's motivation for killing Oswald is less than clear. The conspiracy elements have become so wildly tangled that even the most dubious skeptic may be forced to admit that maybe the Warren Commission was right.
As history, the film admits that it has nothing to offer. As entertainment, it's too slow and cliched to earn much of a recommendation. For Aiello fans only.
"Ruby" A Triumph release playing at Valley View 6. (362-8219) 108 min. Rated R for strong language, violence, subject matter.
by CNB