In the nineties, among the questions asked on film was what might have happened if the Watergate scandal had been blundered into by two dim bulb teenage girls, which “Dick,” starring Dan Hedaya as the President explored. “Dick” went the route of portraying Richard Nixon as a bundle of passive-aggressive tics who, deep down, just wants to be loved. Even by the Canine-in-Chief. “Kennedy’s dog liked him; Johnson’s dog liked him, but Checkers doesn’t like me!” he laments in one scene. “LBJ” released today and starring Woody Harrelson, also goes the route of attributing the main character’s behavior to the need to be needed by those around him. At one point, Woody corners Bobby Kennedy (Michael Stahl-David) and asks why Bobby doesn’t approve of him, and Michael is gobsmacked. “Well,” he stammers, falling back on the old standby, “we see the world so differently.” There is a lot of truth in this, as “LBJ” does an excellent job of portraying. (It’s also quite an understatement.)
“LBJ” opens with events leading up to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy (Jeffrey Donovan), who thrills the crowd waiting to see him by unexpectedly going over and shaking hands with his fans. Meanwhile Woody is sulking because he is not going to receive an endorsement from a key political player (Bill Pullman), and additionally no one is particularly eager to shake hands with him. Before the historical tragedy can transpire, however, the action jumps backwards in time to when Woody reigned over the Senate, and people were genuinely concerned that America might not elect an Irish Catholic to the Oval Office. Because Jeffrey and his team of advisors believe, as Woody says in another scene, it’s better to have your enemy in the tent urinating out than vice versa, he asks Woody to be his running mate. This requires Woody giving up his position of power, but with the encouragement of his wife (Jennifer Jason Leigh) he throws his hat in the ring. After the presidential election, however, Woody finds himself frustrated with the limitations of his office, particularly since he feels Michael is actively trying to undermine him (with an eye toward the ’68 race). After the two movie timelines coalesce, however, Woody finds himself with the chance to have greatness thrust upon him, which takes the form, among other things, of passing the Civil Liberties Act through Congress. The post-assassination drama is centered around this piece of legislation and Woody’s conflict with his mentor (Richard Jenkins) as a result.
“LBJ” is a pretty standard presidential biopic, but Woody at least is entertaining, blustering it up on the loo door open while he talks with his staff, using colorful metaphors and at one point hanging up on someone in a rage. Richard is also good, playing a man who, unlike his protégé, cannot adjust his ideas on race with the progressive times. Jennifer Jason Leigh has the thankless role of playing Woody’s rock, at one point having to wrestle forbidden junk food away as he stress-eats. Alas for those hoping that the newly released “Lady Bird,” might give her side of the story are out of luck, as the film has zilch to do with the Johnsons. But one can’t help but wonder what might be going on beneath the pearls and perky smiling façade of the female characters in “LBJ,” even as Woody wears his (considerably) insecure heart on his sleeve.