Chappaquiddick

Chappaquiddick is a film about an infamous, real life incident involving former Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy in July of 1969. The film starts off a day or so before the incident, we see Ted Kennedy (played by Jason Clarke) giving a TV interview, and then competing in a sail boat race. After the race Ted goes to a party with some friends and campaign staffers. He leaves the party with a woman named Mary Jo Kopechne (played by Kate Mara), and heads toward the beach. Unfortunately, Ted drives his car off a bridge and into the water, he escapes the vehicle but Mary Jo is not so lucky. From there the rest of the film is pretty much just following the damage control efforts being done by Ted and staff at the Kennedy compound to preserve Ted's public perception. 

Overall, it's not a bad movie but it isn't particularly memorable either. If that event and the days following is a subject that interests you then it's worth watching. I personally found the film to be a little dull. It leaves questions unanswered and ignores famous theories about the crash not being an accident. Maybe this particular film wasn't seen as a good fit to address those rumors, but it would've made the movie more interesting. 

It's an ok flick but I wouldn't recommend it.

2 out of 5