LBJ (2017)

Three years after "Selma" (2014) was criticized for its portrayal of President Lyndon Baines Johnson during the 1965 Selma to Montgomery marches and voting rights movement, lo and behold, there have been two biopics of LBJ, both of which focus on his role in the passage of the prior Civil Rights Act of 1964. HBO's earlier "All the Way" (2016) also features LBJ's collaboration with Martin Luther King Jr. as a catalyst for the Southern President's surprising turnaround and legislative accomplishments on civil rights, while the late President John F. Kennedy assumes this supporting role in this movie, "LBJ." In lieu of MLK, the most prominent African American in "LBJ" is the President's cook, who he claims is like part of his family.Whereas "All the Way" continues through Johnson's victory in the 1964 presidential election, "LBJ" stops at the President's address to Congress calling for the passage of the Civil Rights Act, but begins with scenes of JFK's fatal trip to Dallas intercut with flashbacks of Johnson's rise to the vice presidency. "LBJ" is especially narrow in its focus on one of America's busiest presidents, with only casual references to Medicare, Medicaid, the Voting Rights Act and the Vietnam War, most of which are only mentioned as the end credits roll. The result is a fawning appraisal of the legacy of a "great man" that bypasses how he is also one of the more controversial figures of the late 20th Century, which may be evidenced merely by reading the conflicting reviews here on IMDb.Rob Reiner and company's daft view of LBJ's process boils down to his mostly making a bunch of phone calls, two episodes of which are edited as montages. He also meets with other leaders of the two camps of opposing Democrats: the Kennedy brothers (with an actor who played RFK a few years ago now playing JFK), as well as Kennedy-supporter and Southern Senator Ralph Yarborough (as portrayed by former President Thomas J. Whitmore), on one side, and Senator Richard Russell as practically the movie's sole embodiment of Democratic and Southern legislators' opposition to the civil rights movement (as portrayed by former Speaker of the House Eli Raphelson). In between these phone calls and meetings, there's some fun made of the President's crassness in describing his nether regions to his tailor or his open-door discussions with staff while he goes to the bathroom--things that have already been shown in other movies and media, from his defecating in "The Butler" (2013) to Rachel Maddow trying to contain her laughter while playing on her MSNBC show the real tape of LBJ's conversation with his tailor. And, there's some psychologizing concerning LBJ's supposed fear that people won't love him.Like Bryan Cranston in "All the Way," Woody Harrelson, reportedly, is about half a foot too short for the part, but he also must wear considerable makeup and prosthetics merely to affect a passing resemblance to the historical figure. Most of the movie is shot above the waist, which conveniently helps to conceal the height differential, as well as his wearing platform shoes. Such a performance and script pale in comparison to decent presidential biopics such as "Lincoln" (2012), or even lesser ones, such as "Hyde Park on Hudson" (2012). A "West Wing" TV episode is likely to be more engrossing than "LBJ," and, indeed, when Aaron Sorkin collaborated with Reiner, it was to greater acclaim than this with "The American President" (1995).

I have avoided this show because i couldn't picture Woody as LBJ, no way...but, i was blown away by the excellence of his acting...1st , i haven't seen a bad Rob Reiner film...it is amazing how Dick Van Dyke dude turned into a great producer and such...i didn't think this show could grab me and be entertaining and it did both...funny, how Woody sitting on the toilet pretty much gives us Lydon's gritty real character...i remember well the day Kennedy was shot and where i was etc. ... people who didn't actually go through it do not have a clue...Johnson drove his security team nuts the way he'd charge out into crowds to rap with folks...the security team members, often, were forced to just ram folks to the ground to keep them at a safe distance..it is good to see any portrayal of Johnson tried out...Kennedy portrayals are dime a dozen and pretty much sensationalized...i enjoyed this to the hilt...i'm shocked how i liked it so much....and further mortified Woody is the guy who did such a great job...also, you have to give the make up crew big thumbs up...just mind boggling what ya can do with makeup ARTISTS AND THEY ARE ARTISTS THAT are not recognized enough...i think most of the reviews for this show are way too low...this should be, at least, 8.5...

Woody Harrelson completely disappears into the role of LBJ.Great acting. A good inside look at LBJ and the aftermath of JFK's assassination, especially for those not alive when it happened.Worth a rental.

I was a young nurse during assassination of Kennedy and the following Viet Nam war and remember the toll it took on LBJ as evidenced in his public appearances. Many years later when I moved to Texas I toured the LBJ Ranch. I believe Woody Harrelson and Rob Reiner did an excellent job portraying a complicated man. Although definitely not wholly complimentary, the strength of his character, his commitment to his country and his valuing of human rights through education and the expression of personal liberty did do justice to the man and his life.