Auto Focus (DVD, 2003)

Based On The Book "The Murder of Bob Crane by Robert Graysmith, Auto Focus stands on its own at 106 minutes long and was directed by Paul Schrader and produced by Trevor Macy, James Schamus, and Rick Hess.

Although Bob Crane (Greg Kinnear) had been a radio personality in Connecticut for 2 years and in Los Angelos for 6 more years he was a radio comedian, He finally was offered the lead part as Captain Hogan in a Comedy Television Show Called "Hogan's Heroes". Throughout its 6 year run from 1965-1971 Crane seemed to be in total control of himself, his family life, and his career. As an avid photographer, his favorite subject was the female form.

He then met John Carpenter (Willem Dafooe), an electronic technician, who introduced him to the new technology in video equipment. John soon showed Bob how to swing with many women, and together, they would carouse the bar scene and pick up women and take them back to there place for drinks, sex, other types of swinging, including photographing and video taping one another in the act of having sex. John soon turned Bob Crane into a sex addict. It was Bob's and John's obsessive compulsion that would not only end his marriage but also make Bob virtually not hireable in mainstream Hollywood circles because of his indiscretions. When the sex-ploitation got around to his manager, he has one choice, to never work in Hollywood again in anything that mattered, or get out of this copious lifestyle once and for all. We finally see Bob as a man that finally knows what's best for him. He makes a decision to quit the scene with John, but John just could not stand for it and remained very perturbed at the end of the film. Later, that night or some other night soon afterward, Bob Crane was found dead in his motel room beaten to death with a tripod and wrapped around his neck with video cord to strangle him.

The fast living and hard loving got way too out of control, thus the end result was the brutal murder of Bob Crane that remains one of the most scandalous unsolved mysteries in Hollywood history today.

Much appreciation should be given for the great acting by Maria Bello and Rita Wilson. There was also a part given to Bob Crane Jr. in this film which was a commentator/reporter if memory serve me right.

I'll give this film a solid 3/5 since it was a well presented film that showed how bad things could happen in good taste, yet I believe didn't really warrant a higher score because of the elicit subject matter. This film is not meant for everyone, yet it does make a dent to show many how not to let the glitter and glamour of fame wreck your life.

Kinnear played Bob to the tea and Willem Dafoe was an accomplished understudy of his friend John (Carpy) Carpenter.

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This film provides a view into the dark nature of "Hogan's Heroes" star, Bob Crane. Greg Kinnear delivers big with his trademark sensitivity in a character whose inner polarities become greater as the movie progresses. He brings a truly disturbing sense of realness in his struggle with pornagraphy and married life. I found it entertaining and often times down right funny to see the paradox of his psyche. With a well written script, A-list actors, and a nostalgic 1960's setting, this unsettling movie is sure to provide a conversation piece among anyone who watches.

Cold, calm, and collected, at least on the surface, Bob Crane was a walking contradiction, and this matter-of-fact, disturbing biography certainly does justice to his many sides. Kinnear's performance is the only thing fun to watch in this movie, but like all good films on unsavory subject matter, the film has a mesmerizing quality, which keept me watching, and kept me riveted. Not a film for all tastes, or even most tastes, but a brilliant character study nonetheless.

BUY THIS MOVIE!!! EXCELLENT MOVIE/CAST/PERFORMANCES & IT STAYS IN MY MOVIE COLLECTION!!! I WATCHED THIS MOVIE SEVERAL TIMES ALREADY & LOVED IT EVEN MORE EACH TIME!!!

Auto Focus is the story of popular actor Bob Cranes decent into destruction. This is a true story although one of his sons disputes much of the movie. Regardless, the movie is well acted, but does not really give a reason for Cranes actions. If you are a big fan of Hogan's Heroes I would recommend you stay away from this part of Cranes life. Some things are best remembered with childhood innocence.

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