Path to War

2002, History/Drama, 2h 45m

11 Reviews 250+ Ratings

What to know

critics consensus

Path to War brings Lyndon B. Johnson's full term to vivid life with terrific performances and a screenplay that provides an intimate look into a president's psyche along with the far-reaching consequences of his decisions. Read critic reviews

You might also like

Game Change
Lilith
Introducing Dorothy Dandridge
Hawaii
Mary, Queen of Scots

Where to watch

Show all services

Rate And Review

User image

Verified

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Rate this movie

    Oof, that was Rotten.

    Meh, it passed the time.

    It’s good – I’d recommend it.

    Awesome!

    So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

    What did you think of the movie? (optional)

  • You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Step 2 of 2

    How did you buy your ticket?

    Let's get your review verified.

    • Fandango

    • AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew

    • Cinemark Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Regal Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Theater box office or somewhere else

    By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.

    You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Rate this movie

    Oof, that was Rotten.

    Meh, it passed the time.

    It’s good – I’d recommend it.

    Awesome!

    So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

    What did you think of the movie? (optional)

  • How did you buy your ticket?

    • Fandango

    • AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew

    • Cinemark Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Regal Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Theater box office or somewhere else

    By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.

Path to War Photos

View All Photos (10)

Movie Info

This film is a dramatization of the decision-making behind the Johnson administration's escalation of the Vietnam War in the mid 1960s. As Lyndon Johnson (Michael Gambon) agonizes over sending more troops to Southeast Asia, he is given contradictory advice from Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara (Alec Baldwin) and Secretary of State Dean Rusk (John Aylward). The president also attempts to build his Great Society at home, while balancing the war's increasing drain on the nation's resources.
  • Rating:
    TV14
  • Genre:
    History, Drama
  • Original Language:
    English
  • Director:
    John Frankenheimer
  • Release Date (Theaters):
     wide
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Runtime:
  • Distributor:
    HBO
  • Production Co:
    Miramax
  • Sound Mix:
    Surround

Cast & Crew

Michael Gambon
Lyndon Johnson
Donald Sutherland
Clark Clifford
Alec Baldwin
Robert McNamara
Bruce McGill
George Ball
James Frain
Richard Goodwin
Felicity Huffman
Lady Bird Johnson
Frederic Forrest
Gen. Earle G. Wheeler
John Aylward
Dean Rusk
Philip Baker Hall
Everett Dirksen
Tom Skerritt
Gen. William Westmoreland
Chris Eigeman
Bill Moyers
Patricia Kalember
Margaret Craig McNamara
John Valenti
Jack Valenti
Gerry Becker
Walt Rostow
Sarah Paulson
Luci Baines Johnson
Diana Scarwid
Marny Clifford
Francis Guinan
Nicholas Katzenbach
Robert Cicchini
Joseph Califano
Curtis McClarin
Martin Luther King Jr.
Gary Sinise
George Wallace
John Frankenheimer
Director
Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for Path to War

All Critics (11) | Top Critics (6) | Fresh (11)

View All Critic Reviews (11)

Audience Reviews for Path to War

  • Feb 25, 2012
    A thorough and effective examination of the Johnson presidency, focusing on the escalating involvement in Vietnam that would eventually undue his administration. Very well written, the film always feels realistic, often re-creating scenes with verbatim historical transcripts. Michael Gambon's Lyndon Johnson is uncanny, he captures the overbearing, homespun demeanor he was known for, while also replicating his mannerisms perfectly. Overall, I would argue the film was far too kind to Johnson, conveying him as more of a victim of circumstance, who found himself in over his head and refusing to cut his losses, and whose otherwise lofty achievements (the mythical "Great Society" programs of dubious effectiveness) go unnoticed. Still, it was very effective in showing a conflicted man, reminding me almost of Oliver Stone's Nixon. Similarly, Alec Baldwin's McNamara was surprisingly authentic, showing a brilliant, though naive, man of cool demeanor. The running time is a bit bloated, but well worth it for history/political buffs. 4/5 Stars
    Jeffrey M Super Reviewer
See all Audience reviews

Quotes

There are no approved quotes yet for this movie.

Movie & TV guides