Filmmaker John Curran just can’t get a lucky break. He’s a very intelligent storyteller with a unique sense of style, with underrated directorial credits that include The Painted Veil, Stone, We Don’t Live Here Anymore, and Tracks.
His films are aimed at adults and likely aren’t seen as “fashionable” in today’s slam-bang entertainment landscape. His newest effort, the Ted Kennedy political drama Chappaquiddick, which takes a meticulously detailed look at one of America’s most legendary of political figures, and his infamous 1969 car-accident scandal, which claimed the life of campaign strategist Mary Jo Kopechne.
Screenwriters Taylor Allen and Andrew Logan’s crafted an info-packed screenplay that’s razor-sharp with its pacing and sense of purpose, moving through events with confidence, and the film’s central performance by Jason Clarke is absolutely fantastic – this is likely the best work I’ve seen from him on-screen. The deep supporting cast includes Kate Mara, Ed Helms, Bruce Dern, Jim Gaffigan, Olivia Thirlby, Clancy Brown, and many more familiar faces.
This is a no-nonsense, meat-and-potatoes drama that carries both dramatic and emotional heft, and it’s interesting to note the lack of buzz that this film is receiving during the lead-up to “awards season.” Maryse Alberti’s low-key stylish camerawork adds a level of visual grace to the proceedings, while the excellent production design by John P. Goldsmith seals the aesthetic package.
I’m a big fan of political thrillers and dramas, so this one was an excellent recent discovery. Curran also wrote the gritty adaptation of the Jim Thompson novel The Killer Inside Me for director Michael Winterbottom, and back in 2015, left the HBO mega-production of Lewis & Clark, after a couple of episodes had been filmed; that show has apparently been shelved after no other helmer was brought on to finish the series – what a shame that is!
His new Australian webseries – Bloom – sounds extremely enticing…hope that shows up in America very soon! Chappaquiddick is currently streaming on Netflix, and is also available on Blu-ray/DVD.
Review by Nick Clement
