I thoroughly enjoyed this movie, after waiting months to see it. The minute I found a theater actually showing it, it disappeared. I thought "uh-oh. it's tanking" (sorry), but when I finally got the chance to see it, I was very entertained. It held my interest and was over before I knew it, I'd always been obsessed and/or fascinated with the Chappaquiddick story, and I'm equally as obsessed and/or fascinated with the Tate-LaBianca murder case that occurred less than a month later. The summer of 1969 must have been horrifying for this country (I was only 6 at the time). The same could be said for the previous spring and summer of the King and Kennedy tragedies as well as the '68 convention in Chicago. I really give this country credit for withstanding, surviving, and actually moving on from all of these events.
Back to the movie itself. Jason Clarke is excellent as Ted Kennedy, and Ed Helms and Jim Gaffigan are very surprising and awesome in their roles. I'm a huge fan of The Office and saw Helms' face in the poster. I thought "yeah, they're just milking his image for ticket sales - COME SEE THE NARD DOG IN A NEW MOVIE". I thought he'd just have a small miss-it-if-you-blink moment, but he's very prominently featured as one of the extended Kennedy cousins. Gaffigan also turns in a convincing performance as one of his (unrelated) aides.
Jason Clarke basically owned this movie, as well he should. My favorite scenes with him were with Joseph P Kennedy (the great Bruce Dern, almost unrecognizable but for his eyes - you never forget a Bruce Dern performance). I also enjoyed the behind the scenes machinations of getting Kennedy ready for Mary Jo's funeral, "neck-brace or no neck-brace?", as well as for his televised statement. Again, it was all over before I knew it. I'll definitely watch this one again (several times over time).
Back to the movie itself. Jason Clarke is excellent as Ted Kennedy, and Ed Helms and Jim Gaffigan are very surprising and awesome in their roles. I'm a huge fan of The Office and saw Helms' face in the poster. I thought "yeah, they're just milking his image for ticket sales - COME SEE THE NARD DOG IN A NEW MOVIE". I thought he'd just have a small miss-it-if-you-blink moment, but he's very prominently featured as one of the extended Kennedy cousins. Gaffigan also turns in a convincing performance as one of his (unrelated) aides.
Jason Clarke basically owned this movie, as well he should. My favorite scenes with him were with Joseph P Kennedy (the great Bruce Dern, almost unrecognizable but for his eyes - you never forget a Bruce Dern performance). I also enjoyed the behind the scenes machinations of getting Kennedy ready for Mary Jo's funeral, "neck-brace or no neck-brace?", as well as for his televised statement. Again, it was all over before I knew it. I'll definitely watch this one again (several times over time).
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