Chappaquidick anyone?

Discussion in 'Visual Arts' started by Lightworker, Apr 10, 2018.

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  1. Luvtemps

    Luvtemps Forum Resident

    Location:
    P.G.County,Md.
    I think that the Kennedys' fascinate us more than any other family in U.S.history.
     
  2. NaturalD

    NaturalD The King of Pop

    Location:
    Boston, Mass., USA
    Not surpassed by the Kardashians just yet but give it a few years :)
     
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  3. Monosterio

    Monosterio Forum Resident

    Location:
    South Florida
    I already saw it, in Brian De Palma’s Blow Out. ;)
     
  4. Siegmund

    Siegmund Vinyl Sceptic

    Location:
    Britain, Europe
    I think there is definitely a 'big film' to be made about Chappaquiddick (one of those instantly memorable names whose unusualness resonates down the decades - just like Mary Jo Kopechne).

    The ramifications of the event were huge - and it did pose the question: how would a man who fatally panicked over a car accident react in an international crisis?

    It also marked a dismal full-stop to the decade that had begun with such hope for the Kennedy family. Joe Kennedy died the same year.

    A shame if the film is dull because it seeks to be objective. But E.K. has been dead for less than a decade and I'd imagine several interested parties are still living.

    I don't suppose the full facts about the case will ever be known.
     
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  5. mrjinks

    mrjinks Optimistically Challenged

    Location:
    Boise, ID.
    Well, this has that OTHER guy from The Office. :)
     
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  6. MikaelaArsenault

    MikaelaArsenault Forum Resident

    Location:
    New Hampshire
    I meant another guy, sorry.
     
  7. mrjinks

    mrjinks Optimistically Challenged

    Location:
    Boise, ID.
    No worries - just commenting on the coincidence!
     
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  8. tommy-thewho

    tommy-thewho Senior Member

    Location:
    detroit, mi
    No interest now.

    Maybe 30 years ago.
     
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  9. Lightworker

    Lightworker Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Deep Texas
    A film about this incident had the same chance of being made 30 years ago as
    a herd of feral pigs suddenly sprouting wings and flying up Roger Waters' bu**.
     
    Last edited: Apr 13, 2018
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  10. Jack White

    Jack White Senior Member

    Location:
    Canada
    I'm surprised this film even got green-lit by Hollywood almost 40 years after the fact. Not surprised no A list actors are in the film.
     
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  11. Jack White

    Jack White Senior Member

    Location:
    Canada
    It went beyond "how would a man who fatally panicked over a car accident react in an international crisis?". It begged questions about the depth of Ted Kennedy's moral and physical cowardice and self indulgence, and his and his family's deceit and dishonourable character.

    I think you're correct in that the full facts of the case will never be known. No-one on the Kennedy side will divulge anything and there were rumours that despite their palpable anger towards the Kennedy family, the Kopechne family was bullied and paid off for their silence and promise not to instigate any legal action.
     
  12. Lightworker

    Lightworker Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Deep Texas
    The Kopechne family wasn't exactly 'bullied' into not pursuing an autopsy for their murdered daughter...
    but there was some 'under-the-radar' persuasion involved by some dude named (shhhhhh...) Richard Cushing.
     
  13. crp207

    crp207 Forum Resident

    Actually.. 50 years!
     
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  14. Siegmund

    Siegmund Vinyl Sceptic

    Location:
    Britain, Europe
    Good documentary on the incident, made 25 years after it happened:

     
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  15. Jack White

    Jack White Senior Member

    Location:
    Canada
    Yes. Thanks for correcting that.

    As a boy I can remember this being in the news.
     
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  16. Dillydipper

    Dillydipper Space-Age luddite

    Location:
    Central PA
    From the outside looking in, I just can't see it as a movie that would have been greenlighted, filmed, or even released. What if you don't look at it as a "film", or even a "docu-drama", but rather another chance for one side of our, "public discourse", to bring up a shameful incident in history, and this time hang all the polarizing talk and mischaractarization that's easier to express in media today, than back in 1970, when our "public discourse" was more polite. What if you sidestep the project itself, and focus instead on an intended result of all the "topical" public discussion that can be used to throw more shade against a powereful family, respected more by one side of the "public discourse" than the other side, hoping this time around, some of it sticks.

    If you think this is far-fatched...just how many other "car-crashes-and-kills-innocent-passenger" films have you seen released in your lifetime, that doesn't involve a Kennedy? The presence of that figure, is the only thing that flips this dog-bites-man plot into man-bites-dog territory. Anybody can suffer an unintended accident; but few can also boast an excuse to attach irrelevant opinions and character judgments to such an accident.

    Or - OR! - maybe it's all a covered-up conspiracy, and there was a SECOND guard-rail...:yikes:

    Anybody has a right to make a movie, but that right doesn't come with a right to yell "Fire!" in a crowded theater.
     
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  17. Thomas D

    Thomas D Forum Resident

    Location:
    Bradenton, FL
    Actually it's a great story for a movie, even if the actual event never happened. Powerful Senator is involved in an accident resulting in the death of an aide, and the efforts to deal with that after the fact. It's a great story for a political suspense thriller.
     
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  18. Lightworker

    Lightworker Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Deep Texas
    Making such films (if they are relatively fact-based) is about as 'dangerous' as yelling "Theater!" in a crowded firehouse. Viva free speech.
     
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  19. Dillydipper

    Dillydipper Space-Age luddite

    Location:
    Central PA
    ...have you met the guy over in the other thread who thinks turning Paul Simon's Graceland into a mix album, was a good idea...?
     
  20. The Panda

    The Panda Forum Mutant

    Location:
    Marple, PA, USA
    I found one when we visited the old man's relatives in the coal regions. I knew a great scam when I saw it. "Hey Dad, here's that magazine that makes fun of Teddy. Gimmee two bucks." Oyea, he'll bite for that. Actually, I didn't think much of the issue as a whole, much better stuff in the individual issues. Eventually sold it for around 2 or 3 bucks over what I/he paid for it.
     
  21. arley

    arley Forum Resident

    Something I always wondered about free speech: in a crowded symphony hall, is it permitted to shout "de Falla"?
     
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  22. Lightworker

    Lightworker Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Deep Texas
    [​IMG]
     
  23. Ghostworld

    Ghostworld Senior Member

    Location:
    US

    So the investigators in this film think Mary Jo was driving the car. The story goes that a policeman going home spotted Kennedy and Kopechne were "parked" and when the policeman came up behind Kennedy's car, the sped off because he was 1) under the influence and 2) a married man "parked" with young girl. They speculate Kennedy handed over the wheel to Kopechne and walked home, which Kopechne crashing the car on her own. Apparently witnesses saw Kennedy looking very calm and friendly the next morning until to friends came up and whisked him away, presumably telling him she crashed the car and was killed, upon which he was suddenly shaken before witnesses.

    However, it's hard to believe they couldn't come up with a better excuse than to make him a "hero" by having him say in was in the car and tried to save her. Who would think that's a better story than saying she borrowed the car and crashed?
     
    Last edited: Apr 13, 2018
  24. carrick doone

    carrick doone Whhhuuuutttt????

    Location:
    Vancouver, Canada
    Man, I so loved National Lampoon in those years!
     
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  25. Neil Anderson

    Neil Anderson Forum Resident

    Location:
    Portland, Oregon
    that theory makes absolutely zero sense. how could he have reported the crash if he wasn't in the car?
     
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