Chappaquiddick

Entertainment Studios Motion Pictures | Release Date: April 6, 2018

7.2	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 69 Ratings

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EdeltraudApr 15, 2018

I did enjoy this movie for the acting & the depiction of a small, elite New England shore town trying to cope with a huge, horrific, national story. It's interesting to see a slice of history fleshed out, but despite Ted coming off asI did enjoy this movie for the acting & the depiction of a small, elite New England shore town trying to cope with a huge, horrific, national story. It's interesting to see a slice of history fleshed out, but despite Ted coming off as heartless, the film didn't accurately depict the debauchery that he was known for (even according to a NYT piece 5 yrs after the accident that said he had a reputation for heavy drinking & fast driving.) Instead, this made it seem almost as if it were an isolated incident. Why was his relationship with his wife so strained, for instance, that might be an important piece & would have been more interesting than the drawn out scenes with his father. The pressure on Mary Jo's parents, as well, could have been delved into further. Those who like historical drama will want to see this, but for those who like a more "regular" thriller, this will seem too introspective.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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The3AcademySinsApr 13, 2018

I have to say, I left the theater feeling really disappointed. Almost every good directorial choice is thrown out the window in favor of what ends up being an over-produced, overly drawn out (at only 1 hour and forty minutes, the pacing makesI have to say, I left the theater feeling really disappointed. Almost every good directorial choice is thrown out the window in favor of what ends up being an over-produced, overly drawn out (at only 1 hour and forty minutes, the pacing makes it feel like two and a half hours) rip off of a Hallmark movie. The story of Ted Kennedy's fateful night could have been told much better. However, the one saving grace of this film is Jason Clarke's performance. He does a great job of bringing Ted Kennedy to life, with all of his flaws. Other than that, give Chappaquiddick a pass.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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Voodoo123Apr 19, 2022

Average quality historical drama. Some great concepts at play here although it is a decent production nothing stood out as exceptional. Cast was ok. Good soundtrack.

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Brent_MarchantApr 15, 2018

While the film successfully avoids the temptation to sensationalize its subject matter, it also fails to effectively engage or captivate, taking an all-too "clinical" approach to its story. The film presents more than a few previously unknownWhile the film successfully avoids the temptation to sensationalize its subject matter, it also fails to effectively engage or captivate, taking an all-too "clinical" approach to its story. The film presents more than a few previously unknown alleged revelations, to be sure, but they don't really rise to the level of astounding or even surprising, keeping the narrative from truly capturing viewer attention. All in all, an only modestly passable effort at making something out of a piece of American history that probably would have been more interesting if left in more capable hands.… Expand

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AxeTApr 12, 2018

This drama (sloppy jackass critics and idiots in the media who label it a thriller are careless and inaccurate in their wording) though well crafted and astute in period detail depicting the widely unknown aspects of the infamous true taleThis drama (sloppy jackass critics and idiots in the media who label it a thriller are careless and inaccurate in their wording) though well crafted and astute in period detail depicting the widely unknown aspects of the infamous true tale would have been better had the tension been ratcheted up. Okay so it's fair and balanced (in fact only two people know the whole truth of the matter and they're both dead) and more subtle indie sensibility than bombastic Hollywood, but that plays a bit dull and predictable in this case as told this way.… Expand

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benskylerhillApr 23, 2018

Given the significant and controversial political nature of its subject matter, one would think that Chappaquiddick would be very intense, full of twists and mystery and suspense, but it just is not that sort of film. It had such potential toGiven the significant and controversial political nature of its subject matter, one would think that Chappaquiddick would be very intense, full of twists and mystery and suspense, but it just is not that sort of film. It had such potential to delve deep into the controversy surrounding what really happened and why it happened, but the narrative is disappointingly safe. It comes across as more formulaic than it was capable of, focusing solely on the perspective of Ted Kennedy and how he dealt with the death of Mary-Jo rather than exploring the events that lead up to it and the broader events that followed it.

Despite the bland, one-sided storytelling, the acting is phenomenal and the script is strong. This is by far the best outing I have yet seen from Jason Clarke in the lead and everyone else is very dedicated to their roles. The writing is smart, managing to blend drama and wit surprisingly well. The cinematography was pretty enough, but failed to stand out in its own right. The editing was another weak point of the film, as many of the transitions feel forced and awkward, to say the least.

Chappaquiddick is definitely a film worth seeing, but I likely will not be seeing it again, as I kept waiting for the story to develop tension and it never did. The drama ended up falling flat as a result and it ends up feeling more like a Netflix Original than anything else.

Story: 3
Acting: 9
Script: 7.5
Visuals/Sound: 6.5
Entertainment Value: 6.5

MY RATING: 6.5/10… Expand

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GrantD243Apr 25, 2018

Considering I wasn't alive when the Chappaquiddick incident happened, I don't think it's that much of a surprise that I knew nothing about this incident until I saw the trailer for this movie. And I actually had forgotten what it was aboutConsidering I wasn't alive when the Chappaquiddick incident happened, I don't think it's that much of a surprise that I knew nothing about this incident until I saw the trailer for this movie. And I actually had forgotten what it was about for the most part by the time I reached the theater, as I watched the trailer a while back. This is a competently made film. It has some great acting and it tells the story it wants to tell well. My problem with this film isn't the quality of the production, though, it's the story itself. Maybe it's because I wasn't alive when this took place (although that would be a very specific demographic to shoot for), but I didn't find this story interesting enough to warrant a movie. Seriously, I don't think I've been as uninterested in a film as I was with this one in a long time. The one hour and forty-one minute runtime felt much longer, and by the time they reached the end of the movie I felt like there should have been more to it. It's one of those movies where I'm torn, because it was well made but I felt more disappointed with this film than movies I've rated much lower. I guess I just wasn't the target audience for this one.… Expand

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carlossolracNov 16, 2018

They make Joe Kennedy into a legit gremlin. Basically implies that Teddy was a puppet for the old man. Not too sure how much fiction overruled fact here but some obvious bias here.

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rmurray847Aug 10, 2023

CHAPPAQUIDDICK is one of those movies that I'm not sure ever successfully argues for its own existence. The telling of the true story around the fatal car accident involving Ted Kennedy and young campaign strategist Mary Jo Kopechne isCHAPPAQUIDDICK is one of those movies that I'm not sure ever successfully argues for its own existence. The telling of the true story around the fatal car accident involving Ted Kennedy and young campaign strategist Mary Jo Kopechne is straightforward and more interesting than compelling. I was about 6 in 1969 when these events happened, but certainly later in my life, when Kennedy was running for president, I learned a fair amount about this scandal. It absolutely marred the political fortunes of Kennedy. But this movie has a hard time making us feel anything about the events.

Kopechne (Kate Mara, doing a nice job of juggling the mix of smart yet a bit innocent that the era seems to require) certainly did lose her life in this accident, and the few moments where the film envisions her terror are as close as we get to having a visceral response.

Most of the film, understandably, focuses on Ted Kennedy (Jason Clarke, in one of better performances I've seen him give). It's not long after the death of Robert Kennedy and attention is focusing on him as the next and final prospect for another Kennedy presidency. He's adored by voters, almost automatically, because of who he is and who his brothers were. He's maligned by his father (Bruce Dern, quite scary). And he's watched over by a cadre of friends and hangers-on, who understand to varying degrees that this is a very flawed man, whose drinking does not reveal a party-animal as much as it hides a deeply depressed person. You never once get the sense that this Ted Kennedy has any real interest in being president (or even in politics at all), but he knows it's expected of him, it's the only way he can win his father's approval and it's all he really knows how to do. Clarke does not play him as particularly emotionally intelligent, nor terribly sympathetically. We feel a little sorry for him when his dad throttles him; but not enough to join team Kennedy. The film diminishes Ted Kennedy down to an inconsequential person. It works so hard to take him off a pedestal someone might put this man on and bring him down to earth. But in so doing, there's not much left to admire or care about, frankly. He genuinely feels bad about what he's done...but the fact is, he's done it. He swam away from his sunken car in a cowardly manner and failed to call for help until it was FAR too late. And then he can't even quite get himself on board with the coverup. He WANTS to engage in cover-up, for certain...he just struggles to even listen to his advisors.

I also hate to say this, but the film also isn't helped by the poor supporting performances from Ed Helms and Jim Gaffigan (a favorite comedian of mine, but kinda lost in the role). The script does them no favors in their roles as two of Kennedy's oldest friends...but these two comedic actors can't make us care about these men. They could just as easily have been labeled as "Friend 1" and "Friend 2."

If you want to know more about the event commonly known as Chappaquiddick, this film does seem to present all the key events. But to me, it felt like it was made either by someone who wanted to depict Kennedy as a pathetic puppet or someone who wanted to humanize a man they admired and overshot the mark. In the end, it doesn't matter. The film is at best, mildly interesting.… Expand

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