MovieChat Forums > Path to War (2002) Discussion > Superb, bravo!

Superb, bravo!

posted 16 years ago by jk80
9 replies | jump to latest

I noticed this was on an absure channel the other night and recorded it on a whim. I only intended to see if it was worth hanging on to a few hours ago when I started watching, but have just finished it and think it's excellent. I'm not well informed enough to say how historically accurate it is, but I certainly came away feeling entertained and much better informed about LBJ and the incredibly complex nature of the conflict and perceptions of it during the period. Great performances by a stellar cast, first rate writing, really interesting. I thought Alec Baldwin in particular was very good.

[–] efs2 15 years ago

I came here - a year later - to post pretty much the same comments.

So ... ditto!

Also, my perception is that it is fairly accurate. I'm sure there is much to nitpick. But I think it gets the big facts right anyway.

Oh, my God! They're turkeys!

[–] pe81171 15 years ago

I agree. I like this film very much and thought it was an excellent depiction of Johnson and the Vietnam debacle. He threw away so much of a chance at true greatness to get involved deeper and deeper into the Vietnam mess.

I really liked Alec Baldwin's performance and Donald Sutherland was excellent as Clark Clifford. I thought Michael Gambon was also quite good as Johnson.

Frank: Just a man.
Harmonica: An ancient race.

[–] tdoa 14 years ago

regardless of one's political history knowledge or opinion about those politics, I thought this was the best political drama I've seen about the more contemporary presidents of the USA. Better even than the ones done by Oliver Stone. My only quibble is casting Michael Gambon as Lyndon Johnson. Although I have no problem in general with casting of British or any other nationality actors as American historical figures, I feel that this should have been played by an American actor and even more so one from that part of the USA, because Johnson was such a through and through red blooded American Texan, that a British actor cannot do him enough justice. Even if Mr. Gambon looked the part, he mangled the Texan accent and was almost unintelligible when he had to be more emotional. On the other hand I cannot off the top of my head right now think of an American actor from the South(west) who could have been cast instead, if they wanted to go for an almost exact likeness.

[–] pe81171 14 years ago

It is also one of my favorite movies on modern politics (along with Oliver Stone's 'Nixon' and Donaldson's 'Thirteen Days'). I thought Gambon was good but agree sometimes he didn't quite nail the accent. Maybe Randy Quaid (before he flipped out) would have been slightly better in a reprise of the role he played to very good effect (winning a Golden Globe) in the TV movie 'LBJ: The Early Years'.

The performance of Donald Sutherland as Clark Clifford is absolutely priceless, though. Talk about completely nailing a real, historical character. I also meant to mention in my previous post Bruce McGill's portrayal of George Ball as one of the lone voices of sanity before America went marching into the abyss.

Frank: Just a man.
Harmonica: An ancient race.

[–] tdoa 14 years ago

yes I could see Randy Quaid with a bit of "old make-up" as LBJ. Let's face it all actors are nuts (that's probably what gives them that extra spark), so let's just focus on the performances and not on the borderline personality they are off-screen.

[–] pe81171 14 years ago

I agree. Be sure to see 'LBJ: The Early Years' with Randy Quaid on TV if you ever get the chance. It still hasn't been released on DVD but it comes on from time to time on the movie channels. Worth seeing just for Quaid's very good performance.

I see where Liam Neeson is going to play LBJ in a movie called 'Selma'. I wonder how his performance will turn out. I thought he was going to play Lincoln.

Frank: Just a man.
Harmonica: An ancient race.

[–] tdoa 14 years ago

I can see Liam Neeson having the stature & likeness, but I fear we shall encounter the same problem with the accent. I just think that there are some archetypal American characters, foreign actors just don't nail well enough, no matter how talented. And let me state up front that when it comes to actors I am a total Anglophile.

[–] hnt_dnl 10 years ago

Totally agree. I remember thinking this miniseries was going to get major Emmy consideration. Don't recall if it did but loved everything about it.

[–] ScareDe2 (26) 2 years ago

What an excellent movie. And very delightful to watch especially given current Ukraine conflict and escalation. Aged like good wine.

7.3/10 rating is not justice and was probably caused for suspicious reasons by the mass. A great movie!