Watch Chappaquiddick

In the summer of 1969, Senator Ted Kennedy (Jason Clarke) should have been at the peak of his political career. He was the leading contender for the Democratic presidential nomination after the deaths of his brothers, John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy, and he had a real shot at the White House. But everything changed on July 18, when he was involved in a tragic car accident on Chappaquiddick Island that left a young woman dead.

Chappaquiddick, directed by John Curran, is a tense and suspenseful drama that tells the story of the aftermath of that accident. The film begins with Kennedy and his staff enjoying a party on the island, hosted by Kennedy's cousin Joe Gargan (Ed Helms). Kennedy is clearly enjoying himself, drinking and flirting with the women in attendance, including Mary Jo Kopechne (Kate Mara), a young activist who worked for his late brother Robert.

As the night wears on, Kennedy and Kopechne leave the party together in Kennedy's car. Kennedy, who had been drinking heavily, loses control of the car and crashes it into a nearby pond. He manages to escape the car and make it back to the cottage where he and his staff are staying, but Kopechne is trapped in the car and drowns.

What follows is a series of frantic and confusing decisions by Kennedy and his team. Kennedy tries to report the accident to the police, but is unable to remember the address of the cottage where he and his staff are staying. He then calls his friend and fixer, Paul Markham (Jim Gaffigan), who tells him to wait until morning before reporting the accident. When Kennedy finally does report the accident, he gives conflicting and evasive statements to the police.

As the days go by, Kennedy's political team gathers at the cottage to try to figure out how to mitigate the damage of the accident. Gargan and another Kennedy cousin, Robert McNamara (Jackie Earle Haley), urge Kennedy to come clean to the public and take responsibility for what happened. But Kennedy is more concerned with preserving his political future than with telling the truth.

Jason Clarke gives a powerful performance as Kennedy, portraying him as a flawed and complex figure who is unable to come to terms with the consequences of his actions. Kate Mara is equally impressive as Kopechne, bringing a quiet strength and dignity to her portrayal of a young woman whose life was cut tragically short. Ed Helms and Jim Gaffigan also give strong supporting performances, as does Bruce Dern as Kennedy's patriarchal father, Joseph Kennedy Sr.

Chappaquiddick is a film that raises important questions about power, privilege, and accountability. It shows how the blind ambition of a political dynasty can lead to tragic consequences for those around them, and how the media and the public can be manipulated by those in power. It is a film that is both gripping and thought-provoking, and it should be required viewing for anyone interested in politics and history.

Overall, Chappaquiddick is a well-made and compelling drama that tells an important story about one of the darkest moments in American political history. It is a film that is both entertaining and enlightening, and it is sure to spark discussions and debates among viewers.

Chappaquiddick is a 2018 history movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 41 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.4 and a MetaScore of 67.