Chappaquiddick (2017)

My Review

“Chappaquiddick” is a political drama film which chronicles the 1969 car crash by Sen. Edward Kennedy in which his campaign worker Mary Jo Kopechne was killed. Kennedy family members and advisors prioritized protecting his political reputation over seeking immediate rescue and reporting to authorities. Director John Curran and screenwriters Taylor Allen and Andrew Logan put together a film which is an even-handed and unbiased look at the incident, which followed Kennedy for years.

The cast is headed by Jason Clark, more than convincing as Kennedy, turning in his native Australian accent for the very distinctive Bostonian twang. Kate Mara as Mary Jo Kopechne and Bruce Dern as Joseph P. Kennedy also delivered riveting performances. Co-stars include Jim Gaffigan, Ed Helms, John Fiore, Olivia Thirlby, Taylor Nichols, and Clancy Brown as Defense Secretary Robert McNamara. The watchable “Chappaquiddick” was a flop at the box office for Apex Entertainment and Entertainment Studios Motion Pictures. It was filmed in Massachusetts.