TIFF Review: Chappaquiddick – “An intriguing inside look”

Senator Edward Kennedy attempts to cover-up his culpability in a fatal car accident.

 A party is held by Senator Ted Kennedy (Jason Clarke) in honour of female campaign workers who helped Bobby Kennedy run for president.  Under the weight of expectation from his father to return the family to the White House, the success of his deceased brothers and a lot of alcohol, Edward goes for a spin with ‘Boiler Room Girl’ Mary Jo Kopechne (Kate Mara), drives the car off a bridge into a tidal channel, and leaves the accident scene with his passenger still trapped inside the vehicle.

Jason Clarke convincingly plays Ted Kennedy as someone who knows that he is viewed to be lesser of the four Kennedy sons and desperately wants to prove himself to his father; there is a dimness in the eyes as well as a cold calculative motivation behind the actions.  Ed Helms also stands out for portraying Joseph Gargan as the family fixer who becomes disillusioned with what he is witnessing.  An intriguing inside look is given to an influential family with the ability to insulate themselves while inflicting collateral damage upon those around them.

Trevor Hogg is a freelance video editor and writer who currently resides in Canada; he can be found at LinkedIn.