Playing the scrutinized senator, is Jason Clarke. It's uncanny how similar the two men look alike. Clarke portrays Ted in spectacular fashion, the facial resemblance, the raw emotion and utter dramatic factor he puts into playing Kennedy is remarkable. While, on-the-other hand, you have Ed Helms, Kate Mara and Bruce Dern rounding out the cast. Usually, with Helms, he is a comedic actor, but he sure does bring his "A-Game" in this film. Mara gives an emotionally gripping, yet brief performance as Kopechne and Dern as Kennedy patriarch, Joe Sr., are both on par with the rest of the drama.
John Curran directs the political drama, in a way that audience members such as myself, (who weren't alive in 1969), can understand the historical significance of the events the film surrounds. An almost exact copy of the Massachusetts area in which the events happened and where the Kennedy Estate is, is amazing to see this interpretation on screen. The screenplay, is another stunning factor at play here. It is the ultimate dramatic factor that surpasses all others aforementioned.
Garth Stevenson makes due with an amazing score that keeps this drama on its feet. Stevenson's score is authentic, classical and intense. More scores like this should be in other films of this nature.
This film isn't just a drama filled political thriller, it has the occasional light hearted humor, in which, audiences get a laugh at what Kennedy does whatever to save his behind. For instance, Ted wears a Neckbrace to claim he was injured in the crash. NOT! He lied about being injured. And he also lied on multiple accounts of changing his story of the night of the accident.
#Thisreallyhappened. I get so excited when some film of a historical event comes out because it is one of my favorite film genres. This film chronicles the before, the during and after it all went down. Seeing that films based on true stories are one of my favorite film genres, this film makes me love these kinds of films even more.
| Photo: Entertainment Studios Motion Pictures |
Chappaquiddick Trailer
Director: John Curran
Starring: Jason Clarke, Bruce Dern, Kate Mara and Ed Helms
MPAA Rating: PG-13-(for thematic material, disturbing images, some strong language, and historical smoking)
Runtime: 1 Hour and 45 Minutes
Synopsis: In the riveting suspense drama, CHAPPAQUIDDICK, the scandal and mysterious events surrounding the tragic drowning of a young woman, as Ted Kennedy drove his car off the infamous bridge, are revealed in the new movie starring Jason Clarke as Ted Kennedy and Kate Mara as Mary Jo Kopechne. Not only did this event take the life of an aspiring political strategist and Kennedy insider, but it ultimately changed the course of presidential history forever. Through true accounts, documented in the inquest from the investigation in 1969, director John Curran and writers Andrew Logan and Taylor Allen, intimately expose the broad reach of political power, the influence of America's most celebrated family; and the vulnerability of Ted Kennedy, the youngest son, in the shadow of his family legacy.
