Hinckley: I Shot the President

“I shot the president”

Engaging, well-researched and somber, Hinckley: I Shot the President benefits immensely from sobering self aware reflections from its titular true crime perpetrator that pair well with his own retelling of events and archival footage and is also a testament to the power of rehabilitation without removing consequences.

Discussion Points:

True crime documentaries usually never feature the perpetrator narrating their own crimes, motives and outcomes - but Neil McGregor - granted unprecedented access to John Hinckley - is able to give audiences the opportunity directly from the attempted assassin himself how his infamous attempt came to be. Eerily paralleling current political tensions, the documentary is thoroughly researched and feels journalistic and historical but never political. Hinckley himself wasn’t interested in a political motive, instead his deep obsession with being seen as a protector and powerful man drove him to shoot those shots that day. Really appreciated the blend of archival footage, interviews and access to document scans.