All the Way (film)
| All the Way | |
|---|---|
 Television release poster | |
| Genre |
Biography Drama History |
| Written by | Robert Schenkkan |
| Directed by | Jay Roach |
| Starring |
Bryan Cranston Anthony Mackie Melissa Leo Frank Langella |
| Theme music composer | James Newton Howard |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) |
Bryan Cranston Justin Falvey Darryl Frank Jay Roach Robert Schenkkan Steven Spielberg James Degus (co-executive producer) Michelle Graham (co-executive producer |
| Producer(s) |
Scott Ferguson Jeffrey Richards |
| Cinematography | Jim Denault |
| Editor(s) | Carol Littleton |
| Running time | 132 minutes |
| Production company(s) |
HBO Films Amblin Entertainment Moon Shot Entertainment Tale Told Productions Everyman Pictures |
| Distributor | HBO |
| Release | |
| Original network | HBO |
| Original release |
|
All the Way is a 2016 American HBO biographical TV drama film based on events of the presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson, directed by Jay Roach and adapted by Robert Schenkkan from his play with the same title. The film stars Bryan Cranston, who reprises his role as Johnson from the play's 2014 Broadway production, opposite Melissa Leo as First Lady Lady Bird Johnson; Anthony Mackie as Civil Rights Movement leader Martin Luther King, Jr.; and Frank Langella as US Senator Richard Russell, from Georgia.
The film was broadcast on HBO on May 21, 2016.[1] The film was well received by critics, with Cranston's portrayal of Johnson garnering praise. It has been nominated for a Television Critics Association Award for Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries and Specials, with Cranston also nominated for Individual Achievement in Drama for his work on the film. It got nominated for eight Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Television Movie as well as acting nominations for Cranston and Leo.[2]
Plot
Johnson becomes President of the United States after the John F. Kennedy assassination. Johnson enters the White House but soon must work on the passage of the Civil Rights Act. Pressured by King to pass the bill without removing its most significant content to appease Southern Democrats, who oppose the bill so much that they may abandon the Democratic Party if the bill passes. At the same time, he wants to declare a War on Poverty. The Vietnam War escalates after the Gulf of Tonkin incident.
Cast
- Bryan Cranston as President Lyndon B. Johnson
- Anthony Mackie as Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Melissa Leo as First Lady Lady Bird Johnson
- Bradley Whitford as Vice President Hubert Humphrey
- Stephen Root as J. Edgar Hoover
- Marque Richardson as Bob Moses
- Aisha Hinds as Fannie Lou Hamer
- Todd Weeks as Walter Jenkins
- Mo McRae as Stokely Carmichael
- Spencer Garrett as Walter Reuther
- Ken Jenkins as Rep. Howard W. 'Judge' Smith
- Tim True as Deke Deloach
- Bruce Nozick as Stanley Levison
- Frank Langella as Senator Richard Russell, Jr.
- Ned Van Zandt as Senator J. William Fulbright
- Dale E. Turner as Choir Director
- Ray Wise as Senator Everett Dirksen
- Eric Pumphrey as Dave Dennis
- Dohn Norwood as Ralph Abernathy
- Joe Morton as Roy Wilkins
- Steven H. Bozajian as JFK Aide
Production
On July 16, 2014, it was announced that HBO Films had acquired the rights to the play All the Way with Robert Schenkkan writing the adaptation and Bryan Cranston reprising his role as Lyndon B. Johnson.[3] Schenkkan and producer Steven Spielberg agreed that that the adaptation would differ significantly from the play. Schenkkan says, "When Steven, Bryan Cranston and I brought this to HBO, what I said at the time was, 'Look, I have no interest in just shooting the play. What I want to do is a complete cinematic reimagining of this story.' Everybody was on board for that. It’s obviously recognizably the same story with many – but not all – of the same characters. I took a really hard look at how I could best tell this story on screen now that I had all the things that cinema brings that I did not have in my toolkit when I was working on stage."[4]
On March 7, 2015, it was announced that Jay Roach would direct the film.[5] On June 30, 2015, Anthony Mackie was cast as Martin Luther King, Jr.[6] On July 2, 2015, Melissa Leo was cast as Lady Bird Johnson.[7] On July 8, 2015, Stephen Root and Marque Richardson were cast as J. Edgar Hoover and Bob Moses, respectively.[8] On July 23, 2015, Bradley Whitford was cast as Hubert Humphrey.[9] On July 23, 2015, Aisha Hinds, Spencer Garrett, Todd Weeks, and Mo McRae were cast as Fannie Lou Hamer, Walter Reuther, Walter Jenkins, and Stokely Carmichael, respectively.[10] On July 28, 2015, Frank Langella was cast as Richard Russell, Jr.[11] On September 18, 2015, Bruce Nozick was cast as Stanley Levison.[12] On September 29, 2015, Ned Van Zandt was cast as J. William Fulbright.[13]
Filming began on August 13, 2015.[14]
Reception
All the Way received positive reviews from critics. The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes gave the film an approval rating of 88%, based on 25 reviews, with an average rating of 8.1/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Anchored by Bryan Cranston's phenomenal performance as LBJ, All the Way is an engrossing portrayal of a complicated man during a pivotal moment in US history."[15] On Metacritic the film has a score of 78 out of 100, based on 27 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[16]
See also
References
- ↑ "HBO's Adaptation of ALL THE WAY, Filmed 'LADY DAY' Receive Premiere Dates". Broadway World. January 7, 2016.
- ↑ Clement, Olivia (July 14, 2016). "Audra McDonald, Viola Davis, Bryan Cranston Among 2016 Emmy Nominees". Playbill.
- ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (July 16, 2014). "HBO Films Nabs Adaptation Of LBJ Play 'All The Way' With Bryan Cranston Starring & Steven Spielberg Producing". Deadline Hollywood.
- ↑ McKittrick, Christopher (October 4, 2016). "Chopping in High Cotton: Robert Schenkkan on All the Way and Hacksaw Ridge". Creative Screenwriting.
- ↑ Siegel, Tatiana (March 7, 2015). "Jay Roach Attached to Direct HBO's LBJ Biopic 'All the Way' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ↑ Fleming, Mike (June 30, 2015). "Anthony Mackie To Play MLK Opposite Bryan's Cranston's LBJ In HBO's 'All The Way'". Deadline Hollywood.
- ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (July 2, 2015). "Melissa Leo To Play Lady Bird Johnson In HBO's LBJ Movie 'All The Way'". Deadline.com.
- ↑ Petski, Denise (July 8, 2015). "Stephen Root & Marque Richardson Join HBO's LBJ Movie 'All The Way'". Deadline.com.
- ↑ Petski, Denise (July 23, 2015). "Bradley Whitford To Play Hubert Humphrey In HBO's 'All The Way'". Deadline.com.
- ↑ Petski, Denise (July 23, 2015). "HBO's LBJ Movie 'All The Way' Adds Four To Cast". Deadline.com.
- ↑ Petski, Denise (July 28, 2015). "Frank Langella To Co-Star In HBO's LBJ Movie 'All The Way'". Deadline.com.
- ↑ Lincoln, Ross A. (September 18, 2015). "Bruce Nozick Joins 'All The Way', Ernie Hudson Returns For 'Grace And Frankie' Season 2". Deadline.com.
- ↑ Busch, Anita (September 29, 2015). "Ned Van Zandt Cast In LBJ Pic 'All The Way'; Two Join Indie YA Adaptation 'Measure of a Man'". Deadline.com.
- ↑ Lesnick, Silas (August 13, 2015). "HBO Goes All the Way with Bryan Cranston". Comingsoon.net.
- ↑ "All the Way (2016)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
- ↑ "All the Way". Metacritic. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
