All the Way (TV Movie 2016)
All the Way (TV Movie 2016)
For a television movie, 2016’s All the Way is a mighty fine film. I think the movie would have done very well if released in theaters mainly due to Bryan Cranston’s electrifying, uncanny performance as Lyndon B. Johnson. Those familiar with politics and American history will find the story familiar as it tackles a major piece of legislation- The Civil Rights Act of 1964. Director Jay Roach told this story almost if it was a thriller, which in a sense it is. This film was released on HBO in 2016, which was a very trying year in politics. It also speaks to the film’s relevance, especially here in 2020. The film depicts racism and treatment of blacks in a true, but not so flattering way. It showed how deep systematic racism is, which still sadly exists today.
The movie is based of a well-known play by Robert Schenkkan. His play also had Bryan Cranston in the lead role. The two men, along with executive producer Steven Spielberg, decided to tell the story in movie format provided that Schenkkan can make a few changes. Jay Roach, a director known to be overly political and thus the right man for the job, was hired to direct the film. I would not call him a fantastic director by any imagination, but when it comes to politics, the man has the chops to get his message across. I would even call this Roach’s best film to date.
It is 1963. John F. Kennedy was just assassinated. His Vice-President, Lyndon B. Johnson (Bryan Cranston) comes to power as President. Johnson, during his presidency, was known for starting Vietnam, being a big government person, and for supporting the Civil Rights Act. His first act was to get this bill passed, which has some loud opposition, even from some people in his own party. The film shows how Lyndon B. Johnson was a very complicated man, not necessarily a moral man.
If you are familiar with Breaking Bad, you will know how committed of an actor Bryan Cranston is. He goes all out here in a wonderful, memorable performance. He captured the nuances of Johnson. Very uncanny his performance was. People mentioned that Anthony Mackie hardly resembled Martin Luther King Jr., which is true. Regardless, I thought his performance was solid. Melissa Leo killed it as Lady Bird Johnson and Frank Langella likewise gives a strong performance as the main opponent of the bill, Senator Richard Russell.
Overall, All the Way is a very strong movie thanks to Cranston’s towering performance. The film is political, but Roach makes it accessible for the mainstream audience. To this date, the film is actually the second-highest HBO movie in terms of viewers. That said, it is a relevant movie. It was eye-opening to see how bad racism was in the 1960’s. To think that it still is bad today. If you want to learn about a controversial figure in recent American politics, give this movie a look.
My Grade: A-
For a television movie, 2016’s All the Way is a mighty fine film. I think the movie would have done very well if released in theaters mainly due to Bryan Cranston’s electrifying, uncanny performance as Lyndon B. Johnson. Those familiar with politics and American history will find the story familiar as it tackles a major piece of legislation- The Civil Rights Act of 1964. Director Jay Roach told this story almost if it was a thriller, which in a sense it is. This film was released on HBO in 2016, which was a very trying year in politics. It also speaks to the film’s relevance, especially here in 2020. The film depicts racism and treatment of blacks in a true, but not so flattering way. It showed how deep systematic racism is, which still sadly exists today.
The movie is based of a well-known play by Robert Schenkkan. His play also had Bryan Cranston in the lead role. The two men, along with executive producer Steven Spielberg, decided to tell the story in movie format provided that Schenkkan can make a few changes. Jay Roach, a director known to be overly political and thus the right man for the job, was hired to direct the film. I would not call him a fantastic director by any imagination, but when it comes to politics, the man has the chops to get his message across. I would even call this Roach’s best film to date.
It is 1963. John F. Kennedy was just assassinated. His Vice-President, Lyndon B. Johnson (Bryan Cranston) comes to power as President. Johnson, during his presidency, was known for starting Vietnam, being a big government person, and for supporting the Civil Rights Act. His first act was to get this bill passed, which has some loud opposition, even from some people in his own party. The film shows how Lyndon B. Johnson was a very complicated man, not necessarily a moral man.
If you are familiar with Breaking Bad, you will know how committed of an actor Bryan Cranston is. He goes all out here in a wonderful, memorable performance. He captured the nuances of Johnson. Very uncanny his performance was. People mentioned that Anthony Mackie hardly resembled Martin Luther King Jr., which is true. Regardless, I thought his performance was solid. Melissa Leo killed it as Lady Bird Johnson and Frank Langella likewise gives a strong performance as the main opponent of the bill, Senator Richard Russell.
Overall, All the Way is a very strong movie thanks to Cranston’s towering performance. The film is political, but Roach makes it accessible for the mainstream audience. To this date, the film is actually the second-highest HBO movie in terms of viewers. That said, it is a relevant movie. It was eye-opening to see how bad racism was in the 1960’s. To think that it still is bad today. If you want to learn about a controversial figure in recent American politics, give this movie a look.
My Grade: A-
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