Path to War (TV Movie)

 Path to War (TV Movie)

2002

John Frankenheimer’s HBO movie Path to War is a complex movie about the doings of President Lyndon B. Johnson as he sought to improve the lives of Americans with his “Great Society” plan while fighting the Vietnam War. Frankenheimer, in his final film before his death, tries to be empathetic towards the characters regardless of their popularity. History may look unkindly among people like Johnson, but we need to remember that Johnson and his team did not have the power of hindsight and tried to make the best decisions possible. This film reminded me of an Oliver Stone feature although Frankenheimer is not nearly as sharp or one-sided as Stone tends to be, but you still get that feeling of political uneasiness that Stone film gives. Still, this three-hour docudrama is a potent inside look at a very interesting time in American history.

The main storyline is America’s nasty descent into the Vietnam War. Lyndon B. Johnson (Michael Gambon) acts on often conflicting advice from Robert McNamara (Alec Baldwin) and his other advisors, which gives a sense that Johnson’s team is inept. Thanks to the pressure of ending the war, Johnson puts his grand plans for the “Great Society” on the backburner. In addition to the war, Johnson is fighting another battle on the homefront; The Civil Rights Movement. He is also viciously sparring with political opponents like Robert F. Kennedy and Governor George Wallace (Gary Sinise). Fortunately, Johnson still has friends like Clark Clifford (Donald Sutherland). With his unpopularity soaring, Johnson makes his famous speech that he will not run in the 1968 Democratic election.

The performances are excellent. Michael Gambon, as an Englishman, is an odd choice to play a Texan President. But I must concede that he breathed life into Johnson. I did not feel like Johnson was portrayed as a villain, but as someone facing a ridiculous amount of impossible choices with the pressure turning him into a bitter, defeated man. Donald Sutherland and Alec Baldwin likewise deliver strong performances as Johnson’s advisors and allies.

Overall, I really enjoyed Path to War. It is long, but Frankenheimer keeps you invested in the characters. I am reminded of his older movies with political backgrounds such as The Manchurian Candidate. The production of the film is definitely television quality, but do not let that distract you from the fact that this is an acting clinic for Gambon, Sutherland, and Baldwin. Believe what you want about Johnson, but this movie does a good job in bringing these impossible situations, especially the Vietnam War, to light.

My Grade: B+


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