Winter Kills (1979)

You won't be disappointed!

Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Lamentably uneven film roughly paralleling the Kennedy killing. By the finish, it's hard to tell if the intent is to parody an assassination conspiracy or to offer up food for thought. Of course, the two can be combined, but if so, the results here are sloppy, more head-scratching than suggestive. Much time is spent with Nick (Bridges) chasing shadows, that amount to conspiracies behind conspiracies. Okay, shadows can make for fascinating progression, not knowing who's involved and who isn't. This sense of dislocation was probably best conveyed in 1974's chilling The Parallax View. But here, such suggestive moments are undercut by exaggerations, such as the incredible shooting of the three men in the car, or the ragged development of who Yvette actually is. To me, the only explanation for the frequent piling on of events is that someone was reaching for an element of parody, despite the seemingly dead serious parts.Now I can well understand why the production here wanted to raise questions about the Lone Assassin official theory. It certainly hasn't withstood the test of time, as even a few key frames of the Zapruder film show. Moreover, 1978's House Committee on Assassinations found upon reviewing the evidence that Kennedy "was probably assassinated as the result of a conspiracy". But then the whole matter was dropped without follow-up. Ironically, I can also understand why officials don't want to pursue the matter. After all, who knows where it might lead or what crises an honest investigation might produce.Anyway, Bridges turns in a riveting and energetic turn as the beleaguered president's brother. If spoof was the movie's intent, Bridges should have been informed since he plays it absolutely straight throughout. Also, veteran director and actor Huston towers as the shady and mysterious patriarch of the clan. Note too, how many veteran Hollywood names settle for brief appearances in an independent production, even super-star Elizabeth Taylor. Perhaps they too were unhappy with the Warren Commission Report and wanted to help boost critics who were gathering steam at that time. Of course, the movie debunkings would culminate in 1991's JFK.Though this 90-minutes has its moments, entertaining and suggestive, it's too uneven and inconsistent to really register as either parody or expose.

Winter Kills is one of the strangest films I've ever watched. But if you like to feast on ham acting than this is the film you've been waiting for all your life. The story has young Jeff Bridges hearing the deathbed confession of a man who says he was the unknown second gunman who killed Bridges's brother, the President of the United States 19 years earlier. Which would roughly be the gap in age between John F. Kennedy and Edward M. Kennedy in real life, a bit less for the Kennedys.But Bridges has never had any interest in politics, in fact hasn't had much interest in anything, but has enough money to indulge his idleness, courtesy of father John Huston. This confession does renew his interest and he pursues his own investigation with Huston's backing somewhat.After this as Bridges continues his quest you will see some of the best acting talent around all try to outdo the others. Huston tops them because he has more screen time, but Sterling Hayden as the crazed rightwing millionaire and Eli Wallach as the gay nightclub owner who shoots the arrested assassin like Jack Ruby in real life really earn some honorable mention. You usually have to see a horror film to find this much over the top thespianism.Winter Kills treads ever so gently into satire, but only tiptoeing because the film seems unsure of itself. It's like the director and writers didn't know what direction to take and decided to let the players figure it out for themselves. This is not a great film, but if not taken too seriously can be enjoyed on some levels.

This was before all of the theories were "known." (hah)Kennedy becomes Keegan, Dallas becomes Philly (my hometown), and 11/22/63 becomes 02/22/60. No attempt made to hide the scenario they were portraying either.I agree that the book was too long and detailed for one film. And hearing about guys we just met getting killed in the next scene only helped a little. It moved the story along but seemed like a cop-out.Jeff Bridges seemed too young to be playing the role. They never made ages clear here. He was still great though. And I never thought much of John Huston as an actor. As a director he's brilliant. As an actor he tends to overplay a bit. He re-did his "Chinatown" role here.The name cameos helped. And I'm glad they didn't go nuts with the flashbacks as films like this tend to do. It makes a great spy thriller but not for conspiracy buffs.Watch for......the mother and kid on the bike ...the wig makers view from the window ...the cat on the mafia don's table ...the maid in the bedroom

As much a buried treasure as any film could be, WINTER KILLS is spellbinding. Following a densely plotted film is never easy, but here is a film so rich and full of quirky touches, it's a pleasure to watch. Jeff Bridges is the younger step brother of an assassinated US President. He stumbles upon the actual culprit(s) behind the killing, learning way more than he ever wanted. His ancient, albeit highly libidinous, father is played with gusto by the great John Huston. Anthony Perkins and Richard Boone are Huston's aides (one good, one bad...you figure it out!) The film digresses here and there and probably has one too many subplots and false leads, but it's extremely entertaining and certainly something that should be sought out. The rest of the supporting cast includes Eli Wallach, Belinda Bauer, Toshiro Mifune (a very brief cameo). Elizabeth Taylor (looking stunning) pops up in a surprisingly small but pivotal role.