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.

When one becomes President because of a tragic event (assassination of President Kennedy, which is the starting point of this movie),one may be excused for maybe not knowing much about that person who was "forced" to take on that powerful position. But Lyndon B. Johnson had more to him, than just being a substitue. And while he maybe did not always seemed to act out of the right reasons for certain things or may not have gone far enough for some (or too far for others, which will remain unnamed) ... he did a lot of good ... and created at least some talking points! Made certain people and groups realize things, that they didn't seem to see before that.

The movie as I said does not depict him without flaws ... but it pains quite the picture of him! And having Cranston in here is an achievement! Add to that Anthony Mackie and you have quite the interesting duo. A testament of its time (in many ways),certain things still ring true today ... unfortunately. Also sad that he is not remembered or mentioned more! One wonders why that is ...