Path to War
2002, Drama/History, 2h 45m
11 Reviews 250+ RatingsWhat to know
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
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Movie Info
Cast & Crew
Lyndon Johnson
Clark Clifford
Robert McNamara
George Ball
Richard Goodwin
Lady Bird Johnson
Critic Reviews for Path to War
All Critics (11) | Top Critics (6) | Fresh (11)
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Director Frankenheimer provides a steady hand, faltering only in one or two forced scenes intended to convey Johnson's growing alienation both politically and personally.
June 29, 2020 | Full Review… -
It is painful and profound to watch a man choosing his own destruction in the belief that he can do nothing else, and these 2 3/4 hours capture that -- the heaviness of the head that wears the crown -- as eloquently as any film in recent memory.
June 29, 2020 | Full Review… -
Johnson's brash way of talking rarely revealed itself in public speeches of his day, but in "Path to War," Frankenheimer and actor Michael Gambon give us the real Johnson.
June 29, 2020 | Rating: 4/4 | Full Review… -
From whatever angle you approach it, though, "Path to War" is a tremendous achievement -- not as a history lesson but as a profoundly emotional experience.
June 19, 2020 | Full Review… -
It's LBJ as King Lear instead of Big Bully, tendentious but absorbing, with Baldwin the pleasant surprise.
February 1, 2018 | Full Review… -
Directed confidently by John Frankenheimer, Path to War is a powerful expression of mourning.
January 24, 2018 | Full Review…
Audience Reviews for Path to War
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Feb 25, 2012A 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 StarsJeffrey M Super Reviewer
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