"HBO" still sets the standard for making original movies as their films of real life drama and political pictures are still simply the best! "All the Way" adapted from a play tells the years of the 1960's and the years of the Lyndon Jonhson presidency starting with the "JFK" killing to when Johnson becomes president it's a crazy and troubled time in the country. As the Vietnam war is still raging and the Democrats in the south still are still not liking black folks. Well a lot is about to change president Johnson is about to passing the civil rights act of 1964 that would give blacks rights and equality to vote and have the same freedom that the whites have. Still it's a struggle to get passed thru the congress and senate as the republicans and southern democrats fight it.

Yet thru backroom political under the table deals and promises and with the help of Dr. Martin Luther King and the coalition of blacks especially those in the south it is passed and this helps spur Johnson the southern draw twang talking Texan to stay into the white house in the 1964 presidential election as he wins big with the southern and black vote over republican nominee Barry Goldwater. This film was showcased as a political and social cultural triumph and Bryan Cranston hams it up as president Johnson give him a golden globe or acting award. Overall "All the Way" is one well done original film that shows cultural and social political significance that would become important for race, democracy, and freedom of justice and peace of mind for many.

In the aftermath of the JFK assassination, Lyndon B. Johnson (Bryan Cranston) becomes the new president. He pushes for the Civil Rights Act. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (Anthony Mackie) is leery of him gutting the voting rights out of the bill but he is taken by LBJ's promise of a war on poverty. J. Edgar Hoover (Stephen Root) has King under constant surveillance. Senator Hubert Humphrey (Bradley Whitford) leads the liberal wing and Johnson picks him as his VP. They are opposed by Senator Richard Russell (Frank Langella) of Georgia and the Dixiecrats. Lady Bird Johnson (Melissa Leo) is always by his side as he struggles for the next year to get elected.

This is compelling history and probably as well told as can be in this amount of time on TV. It's a little messy as the movie dives into the sausage making. Bryan Cranston is a first rate actor although I expect LBJ to use his bulk against his smaller opponents more. The elevator scene is terrific for that reason. This is a great political TV movie.

All the Way is a Bryan Cranston tour de force as Lyndon B Johnson ascending to the presidency on the back of JFK's assassination and looking at ways to leave his mark as President.

Cranston is unrecognisable under the heavy make up, something not afforded to costar Anthony Mackie who plays Martin Luther King.

The inspiration for this HBO film is Steve Spielberg's Lincoln as we look at the political machinations of the Dixiecrat Johnson in trying to succeed with the Civil Rights Bill yet at the same time dealing with the leading lights of the civil rights movement who are making waves in the Democratic Party and keeping in line the southern Democrats who have little in common with the fellow party members from the north.

The film is a little ponderous even flabby. Despite the stellar cast and shining performances by Melissa Leo and Frank Langella, the character of LBJ is let down by the writing, his unpleasantness, his complexities are not fully explored. I felt the whole thing to be rather uninvolving.