LBJ

Name: LBJ
Genre: Biography, Drama
Released: November 3, 2017
Duration: 98 min
Rating: 54
Cast: Bill Pullman, C. Thomas Howell, Doug McKeon, Gary Grubbs, Jeffrey Donovan

2017

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 19 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 19 Ratings

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7.6

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7.6	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 19 Ratings

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LBJ

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Movie Details & Credits

Electric Entertainment | Release Date: November 3, 2017 | R

Starring: Bill Pullman, C. Thomas Howell, Doug McKeon, Gary Grubbs, Jeffrey Donovan, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Joe Chrest, Judd Lormand, Kim Allen, Michael Mosley, Michael Stahl-David, Rich Sommer, Richard Jenkins, Travis Wester, Wallace Langham, Woody Harrelson

Summary: The story of U.S. President Lyndon Baines Johnson from his young days in West Texas to the White House.

Director: Rob Reiner

Genre(s): Biography, Drama

Rating: R

Runtime: 98 min

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Critic Reviews

Rex Reed

Nov 7, 2017

Woody Harrelson in the title role has enough spice to keep the viewer alert and attentive. That’s more than I can say about most of the junk that greets the year-end 2017 holiday season. Read full review

Sara Stewart

Nov 3, 2017

As a primer on one of history’s less flashy leaders, it’s a worthwhile watch — mostly for fellow Texan Woody Harrelson’s committed performance behind those prosthetic ears. Read full review

Bill Goodykoontz

Nov 2, 2017

LBJ, Rob Reiner's film, benefits greatly from an absolutely all-in performance by Woody Harrelson as the former president. But it also benefits from the current president, or at least the current administration. Read full review

Alan Scherstuhl

Nov 1, 2017

LBJ slips from an examination of a sometimes admirable leader into a hagiographic daydream, a fantasy of a father figure to save us all. That’s a matter of Reiner’s politics, of course, but even more so a matter of his instincts as a popular filmmaker: He’s offering us an American presidency to escape to. Read full review

Ignatiy Vishnevetsky

Nov 2, 2017

It’s almost sadistic to cast Jenkins, the actor who most resembles Johnson, in a supporting role in LBJ. His scenes with Harrelson suggest a man talking to his own Halloween-mask likeness. Read full review

Michael Phillips

Nov 2, 2017

It wouldn’t raise questions about Harrelson’s prostheses and makeup, for starters, if the drama carried more urgency. Read full review

Robert Abele

Nov 2, 2017

Rob Reiner’s LBJ is an often pedestrian, sometimes punchy, well-acted biopic that gives the mightily capable Woody Harrelson the reins of the country’s 36th commander in chief. Read full review

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User Reviews

pdw123

Nov 16, 2017

Incredible film, but you wouldn't ever know it reading the critics, aka the national critics who seem to always want to slam rare dramatic and intriguing gems as this these days in favor of the endless stream of truly banal Kevin Smith comic sequels to infinity! Get a clue or get lost, youIncredible film, but you wouldn't ever know it reading the critics, aka the national critics who seem to always want to slam rare dramatic and intriguing gems as this these days in favor of the endless stream of truly banal Kevin Smith comic sequels to infinity! Get a clue or get lost, you national reviewer studio sycophant members of the one tenth percent---ruining our American culture for us little people who need to be much more attuned to our bright points in history and films as this--instead of the banal fare like Blade Runner 2049 which you always offer up to us on your fake review platter. And, to other critics here making the point that Reiner didn't want to bog his fine film down with the war and all that, that is totally understandable. Those folks can go see or rent the fine doc about McNamara made years ago, since it was mostly McNamara anyway, or Ken Burns has 20 hours on the war that anyone can view on PBS. Woody's line about 'Nam tells it all anyway when he simply says there is no time in this 100 min. treatment. Finally, for those of us, and there are many, who can't afford HBO to have ever even viewed "All the Way"--or who could never have traveled to see Cranston's fine performance on Broadway---thank you very much for your fine oscar worthy film sir! You are one director who has never let us down, as many other directors have, so that deserves some due respect finally--and the cast is superb and superbly cast.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Vellian

Nov 3, 2017

I really enjoyed this movie! I'm not a big history buff, so a lot of the story was informative to me. But, at the same time, it never felt like a dry history lesson. Very entertaining and fun, while at the same time, it really nailed the emotional and dramatic beats when necessary. WoodyI really enjoyed this movie! I'm not a big history buff, so a lot of the story was informative to me. But, at the same time, it never felt like a dry history lesson. Very entertaining and fun, while at the same time, it really nailed the emotional and dramatic beats when necessary. Woody Harrelson's transformation and performance were really incredible -- he did a great job with the role. The entire supporting cast, as well, all fully embraced their characters and contributed to the quality of the movie. I highly recommend checking this out if you have any interest in that period of America's story. It's impressive how poignant the issues that LBJ faced at the time are still very relevant today, and the movie does a great job exploring that in an engaging and entertaining way.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

JaeTaylor

Nov 3, 2017

This is Rob Reiner's best film in years! Great performances all around, especially from Woody and Richard Jenkins. I wouldn't be at all surprised it Woody comes away with an Oscar nom. Highly recommend!

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

Arlette

Nov 23, 2017

I liked it I thought it was well made and Harrelson gave a pretty good performance. It was historically very interesting and hopefully accurate. I think that it is always hard when it comes to actors impersonating such iconic historical figures and either Bob or Jackie weren't so well portraied

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

shpostal

Nov 5, 2017

Biopics are usually a bit of a gamble - they can be inspiring, bloated, historically slanted or just plain dull. History has relegated Lyndon Johnson to a position that is as polarizing as any one President ever was. He was reviled for escalating Vietnam, although later came toBiopics are usually a bit of a gamble - they can be inspiring, bloated, historically slanted or just plain dull. History has relegated Lyndon Johnson to a position that is as polarizing as any one President ever was. He was reviled for escalating Vietnam, although later came to regret it. But many people today are almost clueless about his insistence as the movie focuses on, passing comprehensive civil rights legislation that was first laid out by John F. Kennedy. The description of the movie isn't accurate - there is no real mention of his days as a Democratic Senator from Texas other than the fact he was powerful and influential and really struggled with whether to run against Kennedy in 1960, which he eventually did, but was defeated in the primaries. Woody Harrelson is a fine actor, and while none of the actors or actresses in this movie resemble their characters, we overlook that fact as he does a great job of playing Johnson - decisive, shrewd, able to play both sides equally well for a compromise that at that time Washington could actually work with. Needless to say those days are gone, and we must shake our heads in disgust when we compare legislators of the past who actually had shreds of decency with the pathetic criminals that sit in those chairs today. The pressure on Johnson was enormous, and Harrelson conveys that dynamic brilliantly. If the script is to be believed, Johnson was absolutely aghast and terrified of being placed in the White House as the result of assassination. I severely doubt any conspiracy that mentions him as a possible player in the assassination. But while we get focus on civil rights and the stubbornness and idiocy of the American South lawmakers, a situation that hasn't changed much except for party affiliation, the film does not mention Vietnam except for the closing texts. It is sad that director Rob Reiner opted to exclude the war, RFK's assassination and Johnson's shocking announcement not to run for a second term as president. For this I deduct two stars because it was the other half of this man's legacy, and in the interest of a complete truthful portrayal should have been covered. Other than that, Harrelson steals the show, and approaches Oscar territory for a film that doesn't go on too long and doesn't get dull. We also are reminded that LBJ championed and succeeded in creating Medicare, Medicaid and the Headstart programs. A very conflicting term as president, but pivotal in the fight for all peoples' civil rights.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JLuis_001

Jan 22, 2018

Case similar to Darkest Hour where the work of its protagonist far exceeds the overall quality of the film. LBJ is a biopic that offers the basics, never deepens or goes beyond the ordinary.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

jgzeger

Feb 22, 2019

Could they have made LBJ and Lady Bird look any uglier? Part of the problem is casting and the rest makeup. Casting Woody Harrelson as LBJ was a ridiculous idea and the makeup person absolutely flunks. I can't comment on the rest of the movie as this was such a turnoff that I couldn't getCould they have made LBJ and Lady Bird look any uglier? Part of the problem is casting and the rest makeup. Casting Woody Harrelson as LBJ was a ridiculous idea and the makeup person absolutely flunks. I can't comment on the rest of the movie as this was such a turnoff that I couldn't get further than the first fifteen minutes.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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