Hosted and narrated by Newt and Callista Gingrich, “Ronald Reagan: Rendezvous With Destiny” looks at the life and varied careers of America’s 40th President and would make an excellent primer for anyone interested in what made the great man tick and the incredible legacy he left behind. Well paced and insightful, the 90 minute documentary presents a number of brand new interviews with, to name a few, Bill Kristol, Fred Barnes, James Baker, Linda Chavez, Bill Bennett, P.J. O’Rourke, Michael Reagan and Edwin Meese, along with ABC newsman Sam Donaldson, who had the White House beat during Reagan’s two terms, biographer’s Douglas Brinkley and Lou Cannon, and Poland’s Lech Walesa.
While Reagan’s childhood, Hollywood career, and two terms as California Governor are covered, the meat of the focus is on Reagan’s handling of the Cold War. Through the interviews and Reagan’s own handwritten diaries, we’re given an insider’s look at the beat by beat history in what proved to be, much to everyone’s surprise, including many of Reagan’s allies, an astonishingly successful quest to put the Soviet Union on “the ash heap of history.”
There are many Reagan documentaries currently available, including some very good ones, but what makes “Rendezvous With Destiny” unique is its focus on how the President’s mind worked. While the main story covers the intriguing high-stakes chess moves of the Cold War, the overall theme is a fascinating examination of Reagan’s psychology and mindset as he made those moves. It’s easy to forget just how controversial and out-of-the-box Reagan’s thinking was at the time, but having those who were there frame the historical and political context for us is a reminder that Ronald Reagan was a true visionary.
Planned by the filmmakers or not, the time spent on Reagan’s successful economic policies comes with a rich irony. Reagan came into office facing a very troubled economy, much worse than what we’re going through today. The result of the tax cutting and deregulation known as Reaganomics not only lifted America out of economic crisis but started us down the path of an unprecedented quarter-century of growth broken only by a couple of short, shallow recessions. Reliving this while at the same time realizing our current President is meeting today’s economic troubles doing the complete opposite of what Reagan proved works is — well, I guess by “irony,” I meant “scary.”
Written and directed by Kevin Knoblock, “Rendezvous” is professionally produced, well shot and great looking in widescreen. All the production values are across the board superb and Anthony Marinelli’s score made enough of an impression that I took a note so as not to forget to mention it. You may already be familiar with the historical beats of Reagan’s life and career, but “Rendezvous” stands out because it allows you to better understand (and appreciate) a great but elusive man.
NOTE: For those of you in the area, the Reagan Presidential Library will host a “Rendezvous with Destiny” premiere in Simi Valley California on Sunday, March 15th. Newt Gingrich will be there and here’s where you can get the specifics.
I’ve been in Los Angeles six years and have already visited the library four times. There’s no place like it.
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