Ruby

John Mackenzie, USA, 1992, 111 minutes

In case you don't already know, Jack Ruby was the man who shot Lee Harvey Oswald, the latter being the man who allegedly assassinated Jack Kennedy. In this portrait of Ruby's life, Danny Mello gives a sympathetic portrayal of the eponymous night club owner, suggesting with much credibility that, like Oswald, he was only a small cog in a large conspiratorial wheel, a mere "patsy".

In order to add spice to the proceedings, a fictional character is added to the story in the shape of Candy Cane (Sherilyn Fenn). She is an endearingly innocent figure who drifts into Ruby's life just at the right time, serving as an attractive escort for him when he mixes with the big-time Mafia chiefs. Gradually, however, the two draw apart, Candy becoming one of Kennedy's innumerable mistresses and Jack falling deeper and deeper into the hands of the mafia, the people who it is suggested killed JFK. Eventually, Ruby decides he's had enough of "this shit" and goes off with a loaded gun, determined to blow the whole thing wide open.

Ruby is a very tense, very exciting film. John McKenzie's direction is highly atmospheric and the standard of acting is first-rate. Aiello turns in a particularly convincing performance in the title role.

Review by Stephen Townsend
Taken from EUFS Programme 1992-93