LBJ – A Movie Review
LBJ centers on the political upheaval that Vice President Johnson faced when he was thrust into the presidency at the hands of an assassin’s bullet in November 1963. With political battles on both sides of the aisle, Johnson struggles to heal a nation and secure his presidency by passing Kennedy’s historic Civil Rights Act.
Director: Rob Reiner
Writer: Joey Hartstone (screenplay)
Cast: Woody Harrelson, Michael Stahl-David, Richard Jenkins, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Jeffrey Donovan, Bill Pullman, John Burke
I watched this last weekend on Amazon. It was well worth the time.
First, let me say this about Johnson. From everything I’ve learned about him, he was a profane bully, but he pushed through the Civil Rights Act of 1964 when it is not unlikely the Kennedy’s, despite their popularity, could or would have been able to.
I have a love/hate relationship with Woody Harrelson. I can’t think of any movie he’s been in where I did not like his acting, but for some reason, I can’t warm up to the guy. However, he gave his usual excellent performance in LBJ, and seemed to have the man down pat.
This movie and Harrelson’s excellent portrayal fleshed out the man as someone who had mastered the art of political give and take, who was as powerful a senator as you could become, and yet someone who needed people’s approval and even love. If you expect to see LBJ the great manipulator and master politician, you’ll some of that. More, you’ll get exposed to LBJ’s complex relationships with his wife Lady Bird, played by Jennifer Jason Leigh, John and Bobby Kennedy, Kennedy’s presidential staff, and one or two congressmen such as Senator Russell of Georgia. Set against a huge backdrop, this is still an intimate movie of LBJ the man. Leigh played Lady Bird masterfully.
There is a real sense that this is a docudrama and not a film.
My main criticism is that the film makers stopped short. The story of LBJ didn’t end with the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It continued through the the early part of Vietnam War, which basically ended Johnson’s hopes for another term. I would have liked to have seen this cast and crew carry on the story.
I’m giving this one a 7. Lay didn’t watch it with me. What did you think of the movie.
(1 votes, average: 7.00 out of 10)
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