"Path to War" could rightly be called "JFK 2" or "Nixon: The Prequel." "Path to War," while focusing on the behind the scene elements that led to the escalation in Vietnam, could also be called "LBJ," as the movie centered around him as much as the Vietnam War itself. Unfortunately, the two are inexorably linked as the U.S. involvement in Vietnam increased under his leadership. With such a heavy focus on the war, very little credit was given to Lyndon Baines Johnson (played by Michael Gambon) for the work he did for civil rights. Sure, there was a little nod to his accomplishments showing him give a speech and sign the Voter Rights Act of 1965, but it was marred by the superfluous tooting of his own horn after the passage of the act. You would've thought he freed the slaves he praised himself so heavily. And there was no mention of his signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 or the Civil Rights Act of 1968 which contained in it the Fair Housing Act. Perhaps that was meant for another movie.
PTW though, was about the many players involved in taking the country into an unwinnable war. Yes, LBJ had the final say, but with Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara (played by Alec Baldwin) and other hawks in his ear only one course seemed possible. He did have counter voices such as Undersecretary George Ball (Bruce McGill) and early on Clark Clifford (Donald Sutherland), but their words were a trifle compared to McNamara and maybe even Johnson's own.
I like PTW. This was a side of the Vietnam War I had not seen. With so many Vietnam movies focused on the troops, it was inspiriting to see behind the scenes. PTW is a long movie, but the performances are sound and the subject matter is riveting.
PTW though, was about the many players involved in taking the country into an unwinnable war. Yes, LBJ had the final say, but with Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara (played by Alec Baldwin) and other hawks in his ear only one course seemed possible. He did have counter voices such as Undersecretary George Ball (Bruce McGill) and early on Clark Clifford (Donald Sutherland), but their words were a trifle compared to McNamara and maybe even Johnson's own.
I like PTW. This was a side of the Vietnam War I had not seen. With so many Vietnam movies focused on the troops, it was inspiriting to see behind the scenes. PTW is a long movie, but the performances are sound and the subject matter is riveting.