All the Way (2016)

Brilliant and touching

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

Blistering performances.

I watched this movie in the light of Trump's election. I didn't think the historical events depicted in this film would remind me so much of the things that have been transpiring in the US this year, but it really did. People constantly label MLK as "peaceful," and a lot of people get the wrong idea that somehow all of his protests were peaceful -- That the protests of today by activist groups like the BLM are somehow the polar opposite from these of MLK. In reality, we attribute the peacefulness to these protests because MLK himself was peaceful, but a lot of his protests did indeed spiral out of control with several people rioting, getting killed and so on. A lot of people forget that the three men in Mississippi were actually protesters, and they were essentially killed in combat. The 3D view of all historical figures in this film is kind of jarring at first -- MLK as an adulterer which is true. Despite his being a Reverend, Lyndon B. Johnson's affinity for holding meetings while taking a dump. These are very reminiscent of people today, and it cuts through the romanticization of the past that most of us hold. People back then were just like us -- They got angry, sad, happy just like we do. They reacted in very similar ways, and the way this movie construed the events to make them very reminiscent of what has transpired in the past couple of decades is what makes this an authentically great movie. Maybe some people wouldn't find it as captivating as me. After all, I am a self-proclaimed history junkie so the factual and humanizing dimensions of this movie made the entire experience incredibly riveting. I can't say I support Trump, or if I do. I think that we still have a lot to learn about him and his administration even if I voted democrat in the last election. A small part of this movie also focuses on "bad press," which is also a very serious issue plaguing our country today. Stick to your guns -- Rely on your gut. Remember to always question everything and double check any news being spoon-fed to you. For example, the press today publishing articles about deportations trying to exploit the context of Trump's win to make it sound like a direct consequence of the result when in fact, an Executive Order takes up to a month to go in to effect. It is essentially impossible that Trump would have been able to completely transform the vetting system in just a few hours. The people in this movie became hysterical and depended on arbitrary interpretations of the constitution. Some people were adamant that desegration was a violation of the constitution because of these arbitrary interpretations. It is so easy to get caught up in the wrong interpretation, and consequently I'm watching a lot of my liberal friends collapse into hysterics over Islamophobia. Watch this movie, keep an eye on history because someone who does not know their history is doomed to repeat it.

All the Way is a Bryan Cranston tour de force as Lyndon B Johnson ascending to the presidency on the back of JFK's assassination and looking at ways to leave his mark as President.Cranston is unrecognisable under the heavy make up, something not afforded to costar Anthony Mackie who plays Martin Luther King.The inspiration for this HBO film is Steve Spielberg's Lincoln as we look at the political machinations of the Dixiecrat Johnson in trying to succeed with the Civil Rights Bill yet at the same time dealing with the leading lights of the civil rights movement who are making waves in the Democratic Party and keeping in line the southern Democrats who have little in common with the fellow party members from the north.The film is a little ponderous even flabby. Despite the stellar cast and shining performances by Melissa Leo and Frank Langella, the character of LBJ is let down by the writing, his unpleasantness, his complexities are not fully explored. I felt the whole thing to be rather uninvolving.

History has not been kind to President Lyndon B. Johnson - inheriting essentially a poisoned chalice of a Presidency from the assassinated John F. Kennedy and The Bill of Civil Rights that had yet to be passed through congress. The political forces of the south are determined not to see that happen, thus Johnson finds himself in a political quagmire of trying to appease Martin Luther King and do what he knows is right on the one hand, while battling congress on the other.Let's be clear from the beginning here - 'All The Way' is not just a film about Lyndon B. Jonhson, it is a film about what went on behind the scenes that led to the change in the law in America that led to desegregation and voting rights for all Americans. One of the reasons this film is so good is because it ably does both that and gives us a fly on the wall insight into a complicated man, Johnson and those around him during this period of history. Rarely does a film give us so much on so many levels. Byran Cranston shows us all why he is one of the best American actors living today. He doesn't give us an impersonation of Johnson, he makes you believe your truly watching the man. No doubt this will be all but forgotten come Oscar time, but his performance is truly extraordinary and makes the film a must watch for this alone. It would have been easy for this film to play Johnson as one dimensional but he is truthfully depicted as not being below a few dirty tricks himself. The back and fourth between the two sides makes for compelling viewing in a story extremely well told. However it would be remiss of me to not mention the other performances from the supporting cast, all of whom are universally excellent. Anthony Mackie brings his own steadfast performance to Martin Luther King while Stephen Root is the paranoid Hoover. Melissa Leo, an actress we really should see more of, is fantastic as the Presidents suffering wife. The film covers many key moments of this turbulent part of US History. It's easy to see why actress Aisha Hinds never stops working in her riveting cameo as Fannie Lou Hamer, giving evidence of the despicable brutality meted on her while trying to register to vote. Equally Tod Weeks as the Presidents Chief of Staff is a beautiful seamless performance, that could have easily been lost in the shadow of Cranston, but ably holds your attention whenever he is on screen. Frank Langella is both confidant and adversary in the fatherly Senator Richard Russell, am actor I am always grateful to see. The performances would be nothing however without a great script and to incorporate a sense of who all these characters were, the key events of the time, including the murder of the three civil rights workers and Johnson's numerous idiosyncrasies is nothing shorting amazing so credit must be given to the writer Robert Schenkkan for taking his play and transforming so well to the screen. Johnson was a complex man and perhaps not an entirely likable one but this film brings to our attention that while Kennedy may have been the man who started The Bill for Civil Rights and Doctor King may have created the public pressure in which to light the fuse, it was the efforts of Johnson and his staff that finally got it pushed through. In his short tenure in office he also achieved a great many other things and was perhaps a far greater President than has been remembered by history. I am certain Johnson would have been happy with this portrayal of himself.Highly recommended and easily one of my favorite films so far of 2016 and this coming from a Brit who has a limited interest in American politics.

I watched this HBO historical drama which is based off a play about LBJ and his work to pass the Civil Rights bills in the 60's. First, this is a great piece of work as HBO always does. Reading on the history of LBJ during this time, it's pretty darn accurate too! Second, Brian Cranston as LBJ was just amazing. He had it down perfectly and I read where he stayed in character a lot in off shooting. I was extremely impressed. LBJ is one of my favorite Presidents to read about. The thing that really hit me was how during this time, the whole south turned Republican with the Dixiecrats. And he called it! He knew the south would always vote red after the civil rights bill was passed. With that being said, I can't believe it's only been since the 60's that African-Americans have been able to vote. Racism in America isn't dead and this film portrays what yet would come. If you get a chance to see this, do! You will NOT be disappointed.