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.
I only go to theaters for hi tech visually spectacular movies.
I’ll wait till I can stream this.
And he became the ‘lyin’ of the Senate.’ (misspelling intentional.)
Interesting. Thanks, nikos.
Ted Kennedy, at minimum, was guilty of negligent homicide (aka involuntary manslaughter). Because he could have obtained help within minutes (nearby homes and fire station), he could easily have been charged with voluntary manslaughter or even murder -- 1st or 2nd degree depending on state laws at the time.
Yet you insist on saying Kennedy wasn't even driving the car when it went off the bridge. Do you not understand that you absolve him of all guilt? Even if, as you believe, Kennedy happened across the accident scene after walking some distance to the bridge, that absolves him. In your scenario, he wasn't involved, didn't know Mary Jo was still in the car, and just didn't report the accident until the following morning. Your scenario makes zero sense considering all of the court testimony and contemporary news accounts.
You have spammed this thread....
....what gives
Thanks for the review. I also think he was not driving. I don’t think he followed her to the bridge after seeing the cop. He went back to his hotel. I don’t think he realized that she had died until he was told the next morning because witnesses said he was calm and cheerful until 2 men came up and pulled him aside. What he done was still horrible and so was what he did to this country. I think this documentary best explains what happened:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEOd7AOR6ic
An A from Boston Herald
Saw it today in snowy Woburn MA.Good acting and script, showed his bungling attempts to get out of it. “The neck brace
was a mistake, I know that now.”
Voters of MA re-elected him in 70, 76, 82,
88, 94, 00, and 06. He went sober in 09 when he assumed room temperature.The fake Indian is up for re election in what had been his seat.
#boycotthollywood
#boycotthollywood
I recommend it highly, as younger to see the Dems and the Press (but I repeat myself) colluding in real time. It's like seeing the swamp in action. That, and Joe Kennedy reminded *me* of a cross between the late Stephen Hawking and Mitch Mc Cuckold.