Chappaquiddick (2017)

Depicting Ted Kennedy's involvement in the fatal 1969 car accident that claims the life of a young campaign strategist, Mary Jo Kopechne.

Director:

John Curran

Writers:

Taylor Allen, Andrew Logan

Stars:

Jason Clarke, Ed Helms, Jim Gaffigan

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jason Clarke	...	Ted Kennedy
Ed Helms	...	Joseph Gargan
Jim Gaffigan	...	Markham
Kate Mara	...	Mary Jo Kopechne
Bruce Dern	...	Joseph Kennedy
John Fiore	...	Chief Arena
Gillian Mariner Gordon	...	Cricket (as Gillian Gordon)
Olivia Thirlby	...	Rachel
Katie Henoch	...	Suzy (as Kate Henoch)
Lexie Roth	...	Nance
Angela Hope Smith	...	Maryellen
Vince Tycer	...	David Burke (as Vincent Tycer)
Victor Warren	...	Stephen Smith
Taylor Nichols	...	Sorenson
David De Beck	...	Sargent Shriver (as David DeBeck)

Storyline

The scandal and mysterious events surrounding the tragic drowning of a young woman, as Ted Kennedy drove his car off the infamous bridge, are revealed in the new movie starring Jason Clarke as Ted Kennedy and Kate Mara as Mary Jo Kopechne. Not only did this event take the life of an aspiring political strategist and Kennedy insider, but it ultimately changed the course of presidential history forever. Through true accounts, documented in the inquest from the investigation in 1969, director John Curran and writers Andrew Logan and Taylor Allen, intimately expose the broad reach of political power, the influence of America's most celebrated family; and the vulnerability of Ted Kennedy, the youngest son, in the shadow of his family legacy.

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Plot Keywords:

one word title | 1960s | senator | scandal | car accident | 

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Taglines:

The Untold True Story

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Genres:

Drama | History | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for thematic material, disturbing images, some strong language, and historical smoking

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Sweden USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 April 2018 (USA)

Also Known As:

El escándalo Ted Kennedy

Filming Locations:

Ipswich, Massachusetts, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,765,854, 8 April 2018, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$14,487,192, 23 April 2018

Company Credits

Production Co:

Apex Entertainment, Chimney, DMG Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Ted is being chastised by his lawyers for his actions, they refer to his actions as "John Wayne stuff." Bruce Dern, who plays Joseph Kennedy, Sr. in this film, had previously appeared with Wayne in the film The Cowboys, killing his character. It was one of Wayne's few on-screen deaths.

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Goofs

One of Kennedy's advisers uses the term "as pure as Mother Teresa." Although the BBC aired a documentary in the UK on Mother Teresa in 1969, it was not until 1971 that the US knew of her work through the book, " Something Beautiful for God."

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Connections

Featured in The Ben Shapiro Show: A Big Leftist Myth Implodes on Taxes (2017)

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Soundtracks

Cypress
Written by Alexander McCabe
Performed by Alexander McCabe

User Reviews

Very good production. Almost dead on history worth seeing.

For those that grew up with the Kennedys, and anyone that didn't (ie, everyone) this story needs to be told. I think the movie was done well - acting and production - but that is not the purpose of the movie.

I knew a lot of what happened from reading over the years. But - this was an amazing portrayal, and accessible to the story for those less interested in politics.

The bottom line? At least Ted, (and if you know the history - his father) were very compromised people. They would, in the end, do anything for power no matter who got in their way. (And as the movie shows, there were always people that would work for them, or vote for them, and dismiss the truth that they knew about them.) From all things that have come out - John and Bobby had great similarities (especially with women).

I hope younger people look at this. Ted's faults were his own demons to a great degree - and these were portrayed very well. I would say what we have seen in the last few years is even more damaging to us, and more corrupt. And - if it takes a movie just to say - that people in politics ARE that dirty and DO lie that much - it will be useful for our country.

Nuff said.