Assassination

Assassination Tango
$2.99
As much as I like Robert Duvall, I'm afraid I must agree with the other reviewers who say that this movie was obviously an indulgence on his part. As director, co-writer, and main character, if he wanted to present his admiration of the tango dance form, he should have concentrated solely on that. Perhaps Duvall set up the assassination story-line to attract a wider audience to the film and thus to the dance. Perhaps he was trying to imply that the main character was dancing his own improvisational "tango" as he attempted to complete his hit on his target in Buenos Aires. But no matter--it didn't work. As just one point of criticism, several sections of dialogue meandered on for so long, they became incredible distractions. However, some of the tango scenes were beautiful. Especially notable is the couple dancing during the final credits. I watched the entire movie all the way through only once--and once was enough--but I've replayed this final dance sequence many times. For me, it alone is worth the price of the film.

The Assassination Business: A History of State-Sponsored Murder
$14.95
I came across this book as a requirement for a college course on the subject and I found it quite interesting but cannot help but wonder whether the author maintained an ulterior motive -- the "assassination" of Western intelligence services and/or their governments.

First, I am quite certain that this is a reliably researched book -- in as much as reliance upon secondary sources could be -- yet there were potholes in the narrative that kept hampering my reading. For example, twice within the early chapters of the book, only a few pages from each other, the author implies that the CIA was created and directed by "loud-mouthed racists." Later on, while discussing the development of scramjet aircraft by the U.S., he states: "Flying at 110,000 feet, it is the ultimate fantasy weapon for every redneck president: a remotely controlled, long-range assassin, able to deliver regime change at the push of a button." (Pg. 56) Such unprofessional language leaves one wondering whether the author will resort to the "N" word should our 44th president find the need to use technology instead of people to prevent the next major catastrophe. Had this book not been provided free of charge by my school, I would demand my money back just for this grievance. But there is more...

In describing the Thomas Becket/Henry II confrontation, Belfield's sympathies lean heavily towards the King of England: "At its heart this was a row about power between a nationalist sovereign who believed that he should govern his country in the best way he could and an overbearing, arrogant and inflexible church in Rome, which believed in its own absolute power and the complete obedience of all monarchs to it" (Pg. 130). I would argue that Henry II was the arrogant one, believing that he could install a friend as the Archbishop and not have Becket turn to serve God instead of man. Remember, this was during an extremely religious era wherein the afterlife was far more important than our temporal existence on earth. Henry II's actions led ultimately to the decline of Britain today and its current struggles against radical Islam.

The chapter on Princess Diana's death was very interesting, but misplaced. I think that it would have been best positioned as the chapter on cover-ups. As it was, her death was an accident caused by greedy paparazzi. Unless the photographers were "ordered" by someone to force Diana's car into a crash, there could be no "assassination". Murder by photographers seems counterproductive to those who would not want evidence left behind.

Because this book has just been chosen for my class, I had assumed that the instructor (an actual professional in the field) determined its merit beforehand and therefore I will relinquish to his judgment. However, my initial critique is that the author seems to have issues with either 1.) authority; 2.) the West; 3.)America; 4.) Great Britain; 5.)British Intelligence; and/or 6.) The CIA. I will try to assume that some of this is through literary license -- I'm left with the impression that the CIA, for example, had its hands in nearly every assassination since 1947.

Also, do not believe the author's implication that the Soviets/Russians have abandoned the concept of assassinatons as a method of state policy during the 1980's. Spetsnaz troops incorporate assassination training as a fundamental part of their overall program. They have committed dozens of assassinations for every U.S. orchestrated one.

Lastly, the use of unfamiliar terms (for this Midwestern American) such as the frequent "cock-up" tend to serve as speed bumps in the otherwise free-flowing writing style of the author. A minor hang-up, to be sure, but a better editing job for the American version may have improved the flow of the text for those of us on this side of the pond.

Granted, I did not expect this book to be a "how-to" guide. However, as the choice for a university course on "assassinations", I would have expected it to be more academic in nature. If I therefore had to describe this book in one paragraph, I would characterize it as a 278-page (not counting index and notes) newspaper expose with a few preambles from history thrown in for good measure. It is therefore only as accurate as its sources, and, of those, I cannot verify.

Music From The Motion Picture The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford
$6.99
I am not one who can write reviews with any grace or complexity. All I can say is this soundtrack is one of the best that I have ever listened to. It's moving and haunting. It stands well on its own, without the need of the movie's scenes to compliment it. I highly recommend this soundtrack.

The Assassination of Jesse James
$14.98
It's a great soundtrack. The music features largely in the movie and the soundtrack takes you right there.