Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was such an iconic figure in American history that any actor cast to play him faced an unenviable challenge. In addition to the responsibility that came with portraying someone who changed the Civil Rights movement forever, a performer would need to live up to the archive footage that exists of King giving speeches, as it is quite possible that he was among the most charismatic leaders in political history. Although David Oyelowo delivered an awards-worthy performance in the biopic Selma, the film attempted to tell a complete portrayal of King’s entire life. However, Anthony Mackie gave a brilliant performance of King in the HBO film All the Way, which centered on Bryan Cranston’s role as President Lyndon B. Johnson.
What Is ‘All the Way’ About?
All the Way is an adaptation of the acclaimed stage play of the same name, which ran on Broadway for several performances that featured Cranston in the lead role. The story centers on the early days of Johnson’s presidency, in which he was forced to help a grieving nation mourn after President John F. Kennedy Jr. was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald in Dallas in 1963. One of Johnson’s key responsibilities was uniting the nation, as he was a Southerner who needed to create unity throughout the turmoil of the Vietnam War. Mackie appears early on in the film during a recreation of a key series of meetings that King held with Johnson; although Kennedy had expressed support for the goals of the movement, it wasn’t until Johnson’s administration that the groundbreaking Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed. Mackie showed the pressure that King was under to appeal to Johnson, who could have easily set the plight of Black Americans aside to deal with other issues.
Mackie does a great job at capturing King’s mannerisms without it feeling like an expression, as he was not attempting to depict the version of King that most people were aware of. While any public appearances that King had allowed him to make broad appeals to crowds and listeners around the country, he had to be far more focused in his approach to Johnson, as he was aware that the President was experienced dealing with these types of sensitive issues. Mackie does a great job at showing the weight of responsibility that King dealt with; although some within the Civil Rights movement, such as Malcolm X, accused him of being too moderate, King’s ability to work with others allowed him to have a greater degree of influence. King understands during these moments that this may be the only opportunity that he has to enact real change through the help of a Presidential administration, as Johnson is in a unique position in which he needs to take radical action. Although Mackie shows the inspiring heroism of King, he also shows that he was a relatable person that dealt with his own anxieties.
Anthony Mackie Shows the Political Genius of Martin Luther King Jr.
Mackie was able to show how King developed a powerful rhetoric that allowed him to make his message appealing to an audience that was not otherwise interested in his cause. Although Johnson is warned by several senior advisors within his administration that support for the Civil Rights movement will cost him voters, Mackie is able to show that King has become a powerful figure within the cause, and would be able to sway a significant number of supporters to Johnson’s platform. It is also noted that passing the monumental bill will help Johnson create his own legacy as a President, which may allow him to not be constantly compared to Kennedy.
All the Way is both highly informative and very entertaining, as it is able to condense a great number of critical political topics into a very digestible series of exciting conversations that feature great acting. King’s life was filled with tremendous accomplishments, but Mackie was able to put a spotlight on a specific moment that paved the way for many generations to live out their American dream. Although it would be a great tool to educate people on King’s achievements, All the Way allowed Mackie’s inherent charisma to bring to life one of America’s greatest heroes in vivid detail.
All the Way is streaming on Max in the U.S.
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