LBJ

Approaching this true story with his usual tendency toward lightness and simplicity (i.e., without complexity or nuance), director Rob Reiner takes a compassionate look at an unsung president. It's been a while since Reiner took on political material -- you have to go all the way back to A Few Good Men, The American President, and Ghosts of Mississippi -- but LBJ fits right in with the earlier films. But it's not particularly deep; it's no Selma or Jackie. The goal here seems less about presenting the facts of the case than painting a sympathetic portrait of Johnson. And in that, it succeeds.

Behind his mountain of makeup, Harrelson gives a sturdy performance, barking commands at underlings but secretly looking for acceptance. He wanted to be president, but not like this. And in this movie, Bobby Kennedy -- who's usually portrayed as kind and benevolent -- is depicted as something of a petulant little boy, so it's easy to side with Johnson, especially when, in a private moment, the VP lets his guard down and asks "why don't you like me?" Unfortunately, Reiner glosses over a fair number of details that don't help with his themes. And for a movie about the Civil Rights movement, LBJ doesn't seem to have much use for African-American characters. But the result is still easy and entertaining.