''Killing Reagan'' is a 2016 American

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directed by Rod Lurie and written by Eric Simonson. It is based on the 2015 book of the same name by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard. The film stars Tim Matheson, Cynthia Nixon, Joe Chrest, Joel Murray, Kyle S. More, and Michael H. Cole. The film premiered on October 16, 2016, on the National Geographic Channel.

Plot

The film opens at a

Jimmy Carter James Earl Carter Jr. (October 1, 1924December 29, 2024) was an American politician and humanitarian who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party ...

re-election campaign rally in

Nashville, Tennessee Nashville, often known as Music City, is the capital and List of municipalities in Tennessee, most populous city in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County in Middle Tennessee, locat ...

. William Casey is serving as Reagan's campaign manager in 1980. Reagan's would-be assassin, John Hinckley, is seen purchasing a Röhm gun. On October 28, 1980, Reagan and Carter debate in Cleveland, Ohio. Later, Hinckley hears about the assassination of John Lennon and develops a fascination with Mark David Chapman. After Ronald Reagan recovers from the assassination attempt, Nancy Reagan hires the astrologer Joan Quigley.

Cast

Production

On September 22, 2015, the National Geographic Channel and Scott Free Productions acquired rights to the book '' Killing Reagan''. On May 6, 2016, Tim Matheson and Cynthia Nixon joined the cast to play

Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan (February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004) was an American politician and actor who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He was a member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party a ...

and Nancy Reagan.

Reception

''Killing Reagan'' has a 63% rating on the

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review aggregator. ''

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'' said the film was the best of the "Killing" adaptations to date, but said the film "doesn’t exactly know where to begin and runs out of energy in the aftermath of Reagan’s recovery from a killing that didn’t occur." A review in ''

People The term "the people" refers to the public or Common people, common mass of people of a polity. As such it is a concept of human rights law, international law as well as constitutional law, particularly used for claims of popular sovereignty. I ...

'' magazine said that Matheson "captures the essence of the Reagan persona" but that "Cynthia Nixon’s Nancy is rather pointedly lacking in depth."

Accolades

''Killing Reagan'' received three Critics' Choice Television Award nominations for its seventh annual awards.

References

External links

* {{National Geographic films 2016 television films 2016 films 2016 drama films 2010s English-language films American biographical drama films Attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan Films about Ronald Reagan Biographical television films American drama television films Cultural depictions of Ronald Reagan Films about elections Films about assassinations Films based on works by Bill O'Reilly (political commentator) Films based on non-fiction books Films directed by Rod Lurie Films scored by David Buckley Films set in 1980 Films set in 1981 Films set in California Films set in Colorado Films set in Tennessee Films set in Virginia Films set in Washington, D.C. Films set in the White House Scott Free Productions films National Geographic (American TV channel) original programming Television films based on books 2010s American films English-language biographical drama films