The Rat Pack (1998)
Directed by Rob Cohen
Starring Ray Liotta, Don Cheadle, Joe Mantegna, Angus Macfadyen, and William Petersen
rklenseth's Star Rating:
This is an HBO made for TV film featuring the story of the Rat Pack and mainly focusing on their involvement in John F. Kennedy's (played by William Petersen) 1960 Presidential campaign. The film centers most of its focal point on Frank Sinatra (Ray Liotta) as the leader of the gang and points all the fingers at him for getting the crew together to help Kennedy in his election bid against Richard Nixon.
I don't know a great detail of the history of the Rat Pack and whether or not the film is accurate to history but it seems to follow Sinatra through a jumble of scenes beginning with him as an aging star getting prepared for a performance on the backstage. While left alone just moments before going on stage, Sinatra mutters to himself that he wished the guys were with him and, just as the performance begins, the film smoothly transitions to the 1960's era as a middle aged Sinatra takes the stage. Now while that was a very smooth transition between the eras one problem with the film is that it jumps around and sometimes one can only tell what era you are watching by whether or not Sammy Davis Jr. (Don Cheadle) is wearing an eye patch and the Star of David necklace after his infamous accident. But mainly the film does focus on the Rat Pack's involvement with the Kennedy clan and the 1960 Presidential Race.
The casting is decent with Ray Liotta as Frank Sintra, Don Cheadle as Sammy Davis Jr., Joe Mantegna as Dean Martin, Angus Macfadyen as Peter Lawford, and William Petersen as John F. Kennedy. Liotta is entertaining to watch but I felt as if I have seen this type of performance from him before. Cheadle shines in the role of Davis and his character is probably the most featured in the film after Sinatra and that is good as Cheadle's performance is first-rate. The one thing about the cast that irked me a bit was Petersen as Kennedy as the actor doesn't even come close to looking like Kennedy although Petersen has Kennedy's voice and accent nailed.
Overall, this an admirable and interesting film about the Rat Pack and that time period in general. The performances are fun to watch and the film never really seemed to be boring although the story can get a little confusing as the film slips between different time periods but if you keep an attentive eye you'll notice what time period you are in by the dialogue or, again, by whether or not Sammy Davis Jr. is wearing an eyepatch or the Star of David necklace.
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