MOVIE REVIEW -- Chappaquiddick
April 9, 2018
By: Kathy Rupert-Mathews
We went to see "Chappaquiddick."
It was good.
Not an award winner in my opinion, but good.
It is about how the accident in July of 1969 permanently destroyed Sen. Edward (Ted) Kennedy's hopes of becoming President.
Jason Clarke's portrayal of Ted Kennedy was not flattering. Even the actor himself said in an interview how appalled he was that Kennedy "got away with it."
Bruce Dern, played his non-loving father, Joe Kennedy. Kate Mara played the victim in the accident, Mary Jo Kopechne. Ed Helms is his cousin and general "go-to guy" Joe Gargan. Gargan seems to be the only character with a conscience. Even though he and Ted had been very close, he became permanently estranged from the Kennedys after this incident. You see how Ted cheats on his wife, how he lies and how much of a coward he really was.
It is fast paced and well told. You see how the accident really was and, in flashbacks, how the politicians tried to spin the facts.
It was a vivid reminder of why I disliked Ted so much.
So go. Have fun. Eat popcorn.