LBJ review [TIFF ’16]

LBJ review: Rob Reiner gets political with this biopic which features a stellar performance from Wood Harrelson in the title role.

LBJ review, Paul Heath, TIFF ’16.

Rob Reiner steps back behind the camera for his highest-profile project in years in this political true-story of Lyndon Baines Johnson, the 36^th President Of The United States.

Johnson served as president from 1963 to 1969, but this story picks up just prior to Johnson’s swearing-in as president after JFK was assassinated on that fateful day in Texas in 1963. Reiner’s film back-tracks almost immediately to his days before he served as JFK’s number two, when he was serving as Senate Majority Leader. Assuming the role of LBJ is an almost unrecognisable Woody Harrelson (in heavy latex prosthetics), effortlessly pulling off the former leader of the free world’s mannerisms, strong personality and conveying his ruthless ambition, no-shit-taking and unique traits from the off.

Reiner concentrates his material to a specific time in Johnson’s life, though swings backwards and forwards in time as the motorcade leaves Dallas airport for the waiting crowds near the infamous grassy knoll. The back-story covers LBJ’s legendary rivalry with the future, much-loved President Kennedy, reluctantly taking competing as his a running mate/ vice-president role in the run up to the general elections of 1961, rather than competing against the popular politician.

LBJ is a brief, rather conventional drama, non-linear in its approach (at least for the first half), but largely satisfying, mainly down to Harrelson’s very convincing, strong performance in the lead. He has firm support from recent Oscar-nominee Jennifer Jason Leigh, who plays his wife and constant supporter, Lady Bird Johnson, as well the ever reliable Bill Pullman and Richard Jenkins as Ralph Yarborough and Senator Russell respectively.

What the film does show well, albeit all too-briefly, is the journey that Johnson goes on and the transition and adjustment that he makes when he finally becomes president following JFK’s fateful day in Dallas. Harrelson commands the role, gradually showing this change in a stand-off against his staff as he chooses to follow Kennedy’s path rather than pull on the more southern beliefs as the Civil Rights Act is finally pulled into law. The speech that Harrelson gives at the senate in the film’s closing scenes, is near-perfect and the whole performance could land him a nomination come awards time.

Reiner delivers his best and indeed first political film since, ironically, The American President back in 1996. While LBJ suffers from fairly run-of-the-mill tendencies and an almost TV movie-like feel to it, it does earn its right of existence in a series of films to have featured Johnson in recent memory (versions of the president have been seen in the likes of Selma, the HBO one-off All The Way – with Bryan Cranston in the role – and even in Pablo Larrain’s Jackie, which also plays at TIFF ’16). All of this is down to the dominance and brilliance of Harrelson, a huge, welcomed surprise. It’s great to see him continue his journey into more serious roles, even if his Johnson has a huge comedic wit to him. Definitely worth seeking out.

LBJ review by Paul Heath, Toronto International Film Festival 2016.

LBJ is awaiting a UK and US release date.