LBJ (2016 film)
LBJ | |
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Directed by | Rob Reiner |
Written by | Joey Hartstone |
Produced by |
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Starring | |
Cinematography | Barry Markowitz |
Edited by | Bob Joyce |
Music by | Marc Shaiman |
Production companies |
Executive producers[1]
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Distributed by | Electric Entertainment |
Release dates |
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Running time | 98 minutes[2] |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $20 million[3] |
Box office | $2.5 million[2] |
LBJ is a 2016 American
Plot
This section may be too long to read and navigate comfortably. (May 2022) |
The story begins as
Four years earlier, Johnson was the
However, without consulting his brother or advisors like
Back in Dallas, Johnson hears a shot as they are driven through the streets in their motorcade. The Secret Service get him to safety in a nearby hospital where they tell him that Kennedy has been shot. Kennedy is soon declared dead and Johnson is thrust into the presidency. Although the Secret Service wishes to return Johnson to the White House immediately, he refuses to leave Dallas without Jackie Kennedy, who refuses to leave her husband. To enquire about the legalities of succession, Johnson calls Bobby Kennedy who reluctantly tells him that he can take the oath of office whenever he wants. Against Bobby's wish, Johnson takes the oath aboard Air Force One, with Jackie at his side and Sarah Hughes, the very judge he had once tried to recommend, swearing him in as president. As he returns to Washington, everyone around him reacts uncertainly, unsure what kind of a president he aims to be. His ascension however delights Russell and his southern Democratic block due to his own southern roots and their belief that he will end the push for civil rights legislation. Johnson asks Kennedy's former advisors to remain, while also giving them the choice to leave if they don't feel like serving him. Debate ensues between them as they are unsure whether they should remain with Johnson, or throw their support behind Bobby as Kennedy's heir. Johnson admits his own doubts to his wife, and that he would have rather lost the presidency on his own merits rather than inherit it in such circumstances.
Johnson eventually decides that the best way to heal the nation and to ensure his presidency works is to present himself firmly not just as Kennedy's successor but also as his heir. Although aware that Russell will block his efforts, he rejects his previous strategy of compromise and, when asked whether he supports civil rights himself, he recounts a story about how challenging it was for his cook to cross the south from his home in Washington to his ranch as an
A closing text recounts that on July 2, 1964, Johnson signed into law the Civil Rights Act of 1964, fulfilling Kennedy's dream. On November 3 of the same year, he defeated Senator Barry Goldwater in the presidential election, winning 44 states and taking 61.1% of the popular vote, the largest margin of victory since 1820. Over his next term, Johnson pushed through the Great Society legislation, such as the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and establishing programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, and Head Start. However, his escalation of the Vietnam War lead to rising American deaths and intensifying anti-war protests, causing his popularity to plummet by 1968, and causing challenges from within his own party, including from Bobby Kennedy. On March 31, 1968, Johnson declares that he will not seek another presidential term, becoming to date the last sitting president to forgo re-election.
Cast
- Woody Harrelson as Lyndon B. Johnson[5]
- Jennifer Jason Leigh as Lady Bird Johnson[6]
- Michael Stahl-David as Robert F. Kennedy[7]
- Senator Richard Russell[8]
- Bill Pullman as Senator Ralph Yarborough[9]
- Jeffrey Donovan as John F. Kennedy[10]
- Kim Allen as Jacqueline Kennedy[11]
- Brent Bailey as Ted Sorensen[12]
- John Burke as John Connally[12]
- John Ellison Conlee as George Reedy
- Oliver Edwin as Bill Moyers
- Darrel Guilbeau as Jack Valenti
- Gary Grubbs as Senator Everett Dirksen
- C. Thomas Howell as Walter Jenkins[13]
- Wallace Langham as Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr.
- Kate Butler as Juanita Roberts
- Doug McKeon as Hubert Humphrey[14]
- Michael Mosley as Kenneth O'Donnell[15]
- Tim Ransom as Larry O'Brien[12]
- Rich Sommer as Pierre Salinger[12]
- Brian Stepanek as Rufus Youngblood[12]
Production
The script for LBJ, a political-historical drama written by Joey Hartstone, was one of the winners of the 2014
Filming
Principal photography on the film began in New Orleans on September 21, 2015.[17] It was also shot in Baton Rouge, Dallas, and Washington, D.C. Principal photography wrapped in December 2015.[5][12][18]
Release
The film had its world premiere at the
Reception
Box office
LBJ debuted to $1.1 million at 659 theaters, finishing 14th at the box office.[24]
Critical response
On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 57%, based on 83 reviews, with an average rating of 5.7/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "LBJ loses sight of its complicated subject, ignoring the more intriguing aspects of his personality and career in favor of a frustratingly ordinary biopic treatment."[25] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score 54 out of 100, based 19 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[26]
David Ehrlich of IndieWire gave the film a C, and said "Harrelson, who has a gift for squeezing charm out of even his most monstrous characters, leans hard into the contradictory notion that Johnson is a power-hungry humanist. The result is a performance that is both wildly ridiculous and appreciably grounded ... Harrelson’s turn seizes on his unique charisma in order to disentangle LBJ from the policies that have defined his legacy."[27]
Accolades
Award/Festival | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) and nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturn Awards | June 27, 2018 | Best Independent Film | LBJ | Nominated | [29] |
See also
- Lyndon B. Johnson in popular culture
- Cultural depictions of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
- Cultural depictions of John F. Kennedy
References
- ^ "Woody Harrelson and Rob Reiner Board "LBJ"" (Press release). Newswire. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
- ^ a b "LBJ (2017)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved December 26, 2017.
- ^ Campbell, Christopher (December 11, 2017). "The Disaster Artist' and 'I, Tonya' make their mark in an otherwise poor year for biographical movies". Film School Rejects. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
- ^ Giles, Jeff (November 2, 2017). "Thor: Ragnarok is Certified Fresh". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved November 3, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e Siegel, Tatiana (June 16, 2015). "Woody Harrelson to Play LBJ in Political Drama Directed by Rob Reiner". hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
- ^ Busch, Anita (September 14, 2015). "Jennifer Jason Leigh To Portray Lady Bird Johnson in Rob Reiner's 'LBJ'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
- ^ McNary, Dave (September 9, 2015). "Michael Stahl-David Cast as Bobby Kennedy in Rob Reiner's 'LBJ'". variety.com. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
- ^ McNary, Dave (July 22, 2015). "Richard Jenkins Joins Woody Harrelson's Lyndon Johnson Movie 'LBJ'". Variety. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
- ^ Hipes, Patrick (July 27, 2015). "Bill Pullman Elected To Join Rob Reiner's 'LBJ'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
- ^ McNary, Dave (September 15, 2015). "Jeffrey Donovan Portraying JFK in Rob Reiner's 'LBJ'". variety.com. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
- ^ Busch, Anita (August 19, 2015). "'LBJ' Finds Its Jackie In Relative Newcomer Kim Allen". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f A. Lincoln, Ross (September 21, 2015). "Allison Tolman, Michaela Watkins Join Will Ferrell-Amy Poehler Comedy; LBJ Packs Cast As Production Starts". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
- ^ Tramel, Jimmie (October 19, 2015). "Pop culture: C. Thomas Howell recalls 'Outsiders' mania during Tulsa filming". tulsaworld.com. Tulsa World. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
- ^ A. Lincoln, Ross (September 18, 2015). "Pooch Hall Knows 'A Dog's Purpose', Doug McKeon Joins LBJ". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
- ^ McNary, Dave (September 17, 2015). "'Sirens' Star Michael Mosley Joins Rob Reiner's 'LBJ'". variety.com. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
- ^ Bloom, David; Yamato, Jen (December 15, 2014). "'Catherine the Great' Leads The Blacklist 2014: Full List — Update". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
- ^ Scott, Mike (September 22, 2015). "Rob Reiner's 'LBJ' begins shooting in New Orleans, with Woody Harrelson starring". nola.com. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
- ^ "Woody Harrelson's 'LBJ' Funeral Scene Casting Call in New Orleans". projectcasting.com. September 15, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
- ^ "Toronto To Open With 'The Magnificent Seven'; 'La La Land', 'Deepwater Horizon' Among Galas & Presentations". Deadline. July 26, 2016. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
- ^ Gleiberman, Owen (2016-05-11). "'LBJ' Review From Toronto: Woody Harrelson in Rob Reiner's Biopic". Variety. Retrieved 2016-09-16.
- ^ "Electric Entertainment, Global Pictures Media team on Rob Reiner's 'LBJ'".
- Vertical Entertainment. Archived from the originalon November 13, 2017. Retrieved November 4, 2017.
- ^ Brooks, Brian (November 2, 2017). "Rob Reiner's 'LBJ' On Ticket; 'Last Flag Flying', 'Lady Bird' Bow – Specialty B.O. Preview". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 4, 2017.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony. "'Thor: Ragnarok' Flexes His Box Office Muscles To $120M-$122M Opening – Early Sunday AM Update". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 5, 2017.
- ^ "LBJ (2017)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
- ^ "LBJ reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved November 3, 2017.
- ^ Ehrlich, David (September 16, 2016). "Woody Harrelson's Hammy Performance Almost Makes 'LBJ' Worth Endorsing — TIFF Review". IndieWire. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
- ^ "Rob Reiner Directed Film "LBJ" Has an Awfully Impressive Cast". 18 September 2017.
- ^ McNary, Dave (March 15, 2018). "'Black Panther,' 'Walking Dead' Rule Saturn Awards Nominations". Variety. Archived from the original on March 16, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
External links
- LBJ at IMDb
- LBJ at Rotten Tomatoes