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CHAPPAQUIDDICK Movie Thread--Premiere's Today
Rotton Tomatoes ^ | 4/06/2018 | Nikos1121

Posted on 04/06/2018 12:43:44 PM PDT by nikos1121

On July 18, 1969, Sen. Ted Kennedy drives his car off of a bridge on Massachusetts' Chappaquiddick Island. The accident results in the death of passenger Mary Jo Kopechne, a 28-year-old campaign strategist who worked for Kennedy. The ongoing investigation into the mysterious and scandalous events forever alters his political legacy -- and ultimately changes the course of presidential history, and let's be honest, America as we knew it before Ted Kennedy.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Front Page News; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: chappaquiddick; kennedy; maryjokopechne; massachusetts; tedkennedy
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A fair number of us here on Free Republic have been following and commenting on the upcoming movie, Chappaquiddick, over the past several days. With the consent of the administrators, I thought it would be cool to consolidate our opinions of the movie in this one ongoing thread.

It’s a movie worth seeing. Why? Because, Kennedy went on to serve in the Senate, rather than resigning, and over saw the dismantling of our borders and the character of our country.

Ted Kennedy reflects the worst in our culture especially the hate and filth of the liberal left. In my opinion.

Everyone, I mean EVERYONE else would have resigned after what happened that fateful night, and our country would have benefitted from it. He didn't, and we continue to suffer collectively as Americans, to this day. Think of Judge Bork, our immigration policies, our politics, abortion rights etc etc. The Lion of the Senate? More like the Despicable Pervert of the Senate.

I had the opportunity to attend a sneak preview of the movie last night. the place was far from packed as I doubt anyone under 40 even knows about the story. In fact, I asked my staff of 8 girls, earlier in the day, if they knew anything about the movie. Not ONE, not ONE knew what the movie was about. Mind you, everyone was born after 1969. Still that's pathetic.

The movie is at times too dark to see anything and slow, and I'm afraid to say it may not appeal to the millennial crowd out there as a historical movie. Hopefully, in time it will be a popular movie in its own right as a thriller. Which it certainly is.

It takes place with the backdrop of the first landing on the moon. So, more attention at that time was paid to that historic event rather than what was going on with Ted Kennedy.

On the one hand you see the greatness of our country culminating in what brother John started, contrasting with the low life youngest brother's latest achievement.

The movie gives us a behind the scene view of what was going on at the time just before and after the accident and also at the Kennedy compound. I've read a couple books on the subject and viewed a half dozen docs. Still, the movie gave me some new information.

For example, I always knew Kennedy didn't swim the 500 feet from the island to Edgartown. The movie has him doing it in a dingy, which I am sure is true.

I still don't think Kennedy was in the car when it went off the bridge. The movie doesn't resolve how he got out. I contend he got out of the car after Officer Look spotted it, and had Mary Jo drive down to the beach via Dyke's bridge. He walked behind, then came up to the submerged car, and we all know now that he did nothing--absolutely nothing.

Most notably it depicts Kennedy, played convincingly by Australian Jason Clark, not so much without a moral rudder as without any purpose in life. You get the idea that this guy was a born loser, a pathetic slob.

Right out of the gate we see that he's the biggest "horndog" of the Kennedy bunch probably then, now and forever. Always looking for a party, he organizes the barbecue on the island and makes sure his “Goferthisandgoferthat” cousin Joe Gargon, played by Ed Helms, gets it done.

"Hey, Joe! It's not a party unless there's girls, so get on, and get us some girls!" He barks to him on the phone. In no time he hustling Mary Jo on the beach.

The movie makes it very clear that Kennedy was out for some nookie during the regatta weekend, while pregnant wife Joan was in bed to avoid another miscarriage.

You get the idea that he did things because his father, Joe Kennedy, played by Bruce Dern, expected it. Dern, always the intimidating figure on screen, has the father confined to a wheel chair and facially contorted from a stroke.

Dern looks THROUGH you, in the safety of your movie seat, and it un-nerves you. Trust me, it does.

The father assembles a staff of heavy weights to take over when Kennedy finds himself huddled at Hyannis Port facing the press and possible jail. Contemptuously, they look at the younger brother, Ted as a piece of dog manure.

I doubt that anyone ever thought of treating brothers John or Bobby with such disdain as the likes of Ted Sorenson and the others treated Ted Kennedy. You realize what a light weight the guy was in his father's eyes and the people supporting the Kennedy dynasty.

The only person with any sense of decency and reality is the cousin, Joe Gargon (although the pregnant at the time wife, Joan, let's you know how she feels about Kennedy in three words, and the first two words begin with the letters "F" and "Y."). At every turn Gargon pleads with Ted to do the right thing.

For example, telling him not to wear a neck collar to the funeral. Kennedy hadn't even seen a doctor yet.

Of course, Kennedy at every turn does only what is required to cover up the death of Mary Jo Kopechne, played by Kate Mara. In the end, cousin Joe is cast aside, and basically disowned by the Kennedy clan for the rest of his life.

I won't say any more about the movie, and let the rest of you decide on it yourselves. I predict that "Chappaquiddick" will not be block buster hit at first, as should be, but a slow burn, and then through word of mouth people will come out to see it. But then again you never know.

I'm sure I missed a lot the first time through, and not sure if I'd want to watch it again, but maybe I will when it comes out as a rental.

Over all, I recommend it with 3 1/2 stars out 4 rating.

1 posted on 04/06/2018 12:43:44 PM PDT by nikos1121
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To: nikos1121

2 posted on 04/06/2018 12:44:59 PM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either satire or opinion. Or both.)
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To: nikos1121

I only go to theaters for hi tech visually spectacular movies.

I’ll wait till I can stream this.


3 posted on 04/06/2018 12:46:17 PM PDT by Vaquero (Don't pick a fight with an old guy. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you)
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To: BenLurkin

4 posted on 04/06/2018 12:48:20 PM PDT by Vaquero (Don't pick a fight with an old guy. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you)
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To: nikos1121

And he became the ‘lyin’ of the Senate.’ (misspelling intentional.)


5 posted on 04/06/2018 1:05:48 PM PDT by fwdude (History has no 'sides;' you're thinking of geometry.)
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To: Vaquero

This is proof that “road head” can kill you....even if your drunk.


6 posted on 04/06/2018 1:08:40 PM PDT by mastertex
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To: nikos1121
I haven't entered a theater in 10+ years.Sticky floors and noisy “neighbors” are just two reasons.But I will buy the DVD (or,maybe,the bluray) when it comes out.
7 posted on 04/06/2018 1:21:01 PM PDT by Gay State Conservative (You Say "White Privilege"...I Say "Protestant Work Ethic")
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To: nikos1121

Interesting. Thanks, nikos.


8 posted on 04/06/2018 1:24:48 PM PDT by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: Gay State Conservative

Actually, I enjoy going to the movies IF the movie is worth watching.

I really really really really liked “The Founder.” I’ll go to a Clint Eastwood movie any time. The theaters here have the lazy boy reclining seats that are great. Dinner before hand, and a show is still great. Plus, you get a senior discount, no?

We should have a Free Republic theater ping that tells us which ones to watch.

Chappaquiddick is worth seeing.


9 posted on 04/06/2018 1:29:36 PM PDT by nikos1121
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To: Gay State Conservative

Actually, I enjoy going to the movies IF the movie is worth watching.

I really really really really liked “The Founder.” I’ll go to a Clint Eastwood movie any time. The theaters here have the lazy boy reclining seats that are great. Dinner before hand, and a show is still great. Plus, you get a senior discount, no?

We should have a Free Republic theater ping that tells us which ones to watch.

Chappaquiddick is worth seeing.


10 posted on 04/06/2018 1:29:41 PM PDT by nikos1121
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To: Gay State Conservative

Actually, I enjoy going to the movies IF the movie is worth watching.

I really really really really liked “The Founder.” I’ll go to a Clint Eastwood movie any time. The theaters here have the lazy boy reclining seats that are great. Dinner before hand, and a show is still great. Plus, you get a senior discount, no?

We should have a Free Republic theater ping that tells us which ones to watch.

Chappaquiddick is worth seeing.


11 posted on 04/06/2018 1:29:45 PM PDT by nikos1121
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To: Gay State Conservative

I really really really really liked “The Founder.” I’ll go to a Clint Eastwood movie any time. The theaters here have the lazy boy reclining seats that are great. Dinner before hand, and a show is still great. Plus, you get a senior discount, no?

We should have a Free Republic theater ping that tells us which ones to watch.

Chappaquiddick is worth seeing.


12 posted on 04/06/2018 1:29:57 PM PDT by nikos1121
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To: Gay State Conservative

I really really really really liked “The Founder.” I’ll go to a Clint Eastwood movie any time. The theaters here have the lazy boy reclining seats that are great. Dinner before hand, and a show is still great. Plus, you get a senior discount, no?

We should have a Free Republic theater ping that tells us which ones to watch.

Chappaquiddick is worth seeing.


13 posted on 04/06/2018 1:30:35 PM PDT by nikos1121
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To: Gay State Conservative

I really really really really liked “The Founder.” I’ll go to a Clint Eastwood movie any time. The theaters here have the lazy boy reclining seats that are great. Dinner before hand, and a show is still great. Plus, you get a senior discount, no?

We should have a Free Republic theater ping that tells us which ones to watch.

Chappaquiddick is worth seeing.


14 posted on 04/06/2018 1:30:43 PM PDT by nikos1121
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To: Gay State Conservative

I really really really really liked “The Founder.” I’ll go to a Clint Eastwood movie any time. The theaters here have the lazy boy reclining seats that are great. Dinner before hand, and a show is still great. Plus, you get a senior discount, no?

We should have a Free Republic theater ping that tells us which ones to watch.

Chappaquiddick is worth seeing.


15 posted on 04/06/2018 1:30:51 PM PDT by nikos1121
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To: Gay State Conservative

I really really really really liked “The Founder.” I’ll go to a Clint Eastwood movie any time. The theaters here have the lazy boy reclining seats that are great. Dinner before hand, and a show is still great. Plus, you get a senior discount, no?

We should have a Free Republic theater ping that tells us which ones to watch.

Chappaquiddick is worth seeing.


16 posted on 04/06/2018 1:30:56 PM PDT by nikos1121
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To: Gay State Conservative

I really really really really liked “The Founder.” I’ll go to a Clint Eastwood movie any time. The theaters here have the lazy boy reclining seats that are great. Dinner before hand, and a show is still great. Plus, you get a senior discount, no?

We should have a Free Republic theater ping that tells us which ones to watch.

Chappaquiddick is worth seeing.


17 posted on 04/06/2018 1:31:08 PM PDT by nikos1121
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To: Gay State Conservative

I really really really really liked “The Founder.” I’ll go to a Clint Eastwood movie any time. The theaters here have the lazy boy reclining seats that are great. Dinner before hand, and a show is still great. Plus, you get a senior discount, no?

We should have a Free Republic theater ping that tells us which ones to watch.

Chappaquiddick is worth seeing.


18 posted on 04/06/2018 1:31:16 PM PDT by nikos1121
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To: mastertex
The movie may not be for younger children. She died a horrible, unimaginable death. At the time or shortly after, i read that a victim in a situation like this can suffer from terrible anxiety causing your heart to beat out of control and finally a heart attack. I never read what any autopsy results may have revealed.

Here is an article about the family now, at least who will speak to the press:

http://start.att.net/news/read/category/us%20news/article/newser-mary_jo_kopechnes_family_she_was_no_wideeyed_ideal-rnewsernor

If it had been anybody not rich, famous and politically powerful, there would have been legal proceedings. At the least, it would have been negligent homicide. At the link, it says all but one of the six women have kept quiet about that night and what followed.

We were spared him as president, but it is shameful that the people of Massachusetts would repeatedly vote for him to continue serving in the Senate for more 40 years or more!

Mary Jo Kopechne

19 posted on 04/06/2018 1:31:18 PM PDT by Aliska
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To: Gay State Conservative

I really really really really liked “The Founder.” I’ll go to a Clint Eastwood movie any time. The theaters here have the lazy boy reclining seats that are great. Dinner before hand, and a show is still great. Plus, you get a senior discount, no?

We should have a Free Republic theater ping that tells us which ones to watch.

Chappaquiddick is worth seeing.


20 posted on 04/06/2018 1:31:21 PM PDT by nikos1121
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