Having already won himself a Tony award for his Broadway performance of US President Lyndon B. Johnson in the stage version of All The Way, Bryan Cranston is now crossing this character and story over to film format and it looks like another fantastic performance by the talented actor. The film is directed by Jay Roach, whose recent work with Cranston on Trumbo also got the actor nominated for an Oscar.
Also starring Anthony Mackie as Martin Luther King JR and Melissa Leo, Stephen Root, Frank Langella, All The Way is based on the Johnson’s first term as President after the John F. Kennedy assassination.
Here is the official synopsis:
All The Way offers a riveting behind-the scenes look at President Lyndon B. Johnson’s tumultuous first year in office after the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Staking his presidency on what would be an historic unprecedented Civil Rights Act, Johnson finds himself caught between the moral imperative of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the expectations of the southern Democratic Party leaders who brought Johnson to power. As King battles to press Johnson while controlling more radical elements of the Civil Rights Movement, Johnson navigates the bill through Congress, winning a landslide victory against Barry Goldwater, but causing the South to defect from the Democratic Party.
Based on this trailer we can expect another solid performance from Cranston of course and an opportunity for Mackie to stretch his acting skills with a good role. The story is certainly interesting enough and clearly with the history of the Broadway version this is a story with tried and tested success.
All The Way airs on the HBO Network on May 21, 2016.
Last Updated: April 4, 2016
