Chappaquidick (dir. John Curran)

Director John Curran may be an strange choice to direct a film of the magnitude of "Chappaquiddick". Yet the man behind the terrific "Tracks" and the watchable "Stone" is actually the real star of this picture - as despite all the questions and the fuzzy documented information we have surrounding Ted Kennedy's guilt that fateful night, Curran's stylish and handsomely mounted character study delves into the 7-day nightmare which befell the Senator - and isn't afraid to point fingers.

Known to many as "The Chappaqudick scandal", the well-documented blight on America's most celebrated family became an albatross around the neck of last living male survivor of the Kennedy family dynasty,Ted Kennedy.

Played here with suitable gruffness and a slippery stoicism by Australian actor Jason Clarke, Kennedy was a victim of his own lineage; thrust into a life where he had to surrender to the indignity of competing with brothers Jack - who would later become President- and Attorney General Bobby- both of which assassinated by lunatic goons. The Kennedy curse becoming a blight on a family with money, power and political influence- and a family ideology which subverted the right and wrong in favor for what is necessary.

Ted is the state Senator of his home-state of Massachuessets. Effortlessly popular, with a keen eye on the Oval office. He wastes no time in celebrating a recent campaign victory, and gets on the horn to his adoptive brother and "fixer" Joe Cargan (Ed Helms) - instructing him to corral together some of the "boiler girls" for a night of debauchery laden frivolity, at their Martha's Vineyard beach-house. IN the backdrop, America is on the verge on landing on the moon, the brainchild of his former brother's unfortunately short lived tenure as commander-in-chief. Bobby's death plagues the very fabric of Ted's psyche, as does it for his former campaign staffer Mary (Kate Mara). She's not interested in continuing her duties as a part of Teddy's team, though is willing to go for a drive with him to blow of some steam, and process what life is like for both of them after the death of her former boss. But Ted's been drinking, and not long after they avoid a potential arrest, Ted drives the car off the road and straight into the water. Ted bolts, heading straight back to the beach-house, and rounds up the aforementioned Joe and trusty-lawyer John (Jim Gaffigan) to get their stories straight.

A mixture between Fincher-eqsque melancholy and Alfred Hitchcock foreboding, the opening exchanges paint an evocative picture of a man who is at odds with his public perception, and increasingly dependent on the approval of his father, Joe Kennedy (Bruce Dern). But soon the drama becomes less about his political campaign, and more about his character, and it's clear that director John Curran isn't ambivalent about who is negligent when it comes to the car crash. The film examines the thought process about a man, who was given every opportunity in life to become a great man, a world-changer and someone who can, as he puts it when referring to his brother, "a beacon of democracy". Yet when faced with a life-or-death decision, falls limp the lunacy of his tacit mind.

Bolstered by a terrific script from Taylor Allen and Andrew Logan, which is able to dramatize the events surrounding the 1969 car crash and it's aftermath without meandering into pastiche, Curran's neatly-woven drama examines Teddy's thought-processes and his decisions. Though it seems blinding obvious to us, the viewer, that he should report the accident - a view also shared vehemently by his adoptive brother, Joe - Kennedy is unable to "do the right thing", instead opting for a phone call to his father, with whom he presumably hopes will iron out all the irregularities, yet suitably replies "alibi", as a subtle form of instruction.

Over the course of the next week, with America transfixed by the ensuing space race, Kennedy and his merry band of cohorts try every wiley trick in the book to evade the bumbling police force, and encroaching press, hoping the Kennedy name will be enough to keep their remaining heir from an involuntary manslaughter charge. Handled with a masterstroke of style by Curran, the docudrama histrionics are equal parts engaging and awe-inspiringly shocking- as Curran delves deeper and deeper into the notion of power and the ease with which people can corrupt the political spectrum.

The ensemble cast bring real life to the piece, and are instructed to down-play it to such a degree it almost appears they are not trying. Ed Helms, seen mostly in comedic roles, is the stand-out here - he becomes the voice of reason and indeed the audiences go-to conscience, who constant berated his adopted brother to follow the rule of law or face the consequences. Kate Mara is equally charismatic, though not given a lot of screen time, there are sporadic flashbacks to her life before she succumbed to her injuries which are of note. An Clarke, who is in almost every scene, completely surrender himself into the role - adding the right complexities of the man, from the famous Boston accent, to the sullen disposition of a man made to be the puppet to a much bigger scheme.

"Chappaquidick" may not be seen by the masses, as it has already been moved serval times as a part of release-date reshuffling - and it's doubtless to make a splash across the pond. Yet this well-orchestrated character piece is a well needed examination of America's most liberal family; one who stood for the rule of law and equality for all - and the ideals outlined in the constitution. From this terrific drama, it appears that personal pride was more important than the law - because in their mind, they were above it.

Rating 3/5.