Path to War

2003
7.3| 2h45m| NA| en| More Info
Released: 28 October 2003 Released
Producted By: Avenue Pictures
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
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A powerful drama of soaring ambition and shattered dreams that takes a provocative insider's look at the way the USA goes to war—as seen from inside the LBJ White House leading up to and during the Vietnam War.

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Director

John Frankenheimer

Production Companies

Avenue Pictures

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Path to War Audience Reviews

BlazeLime Strong and Moving!
Wordiezett So much average
Kaelan Mccaffrey Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.
Sarita Rafferty There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.
phd_travel This is a thought provoking and surprisingly watchable movie about LBJ and his success with Civil Rights and his failure with foreign policy in Vietnam. There are a lot of characters but it's clearly presented. It is no mean feat with the different advisers giving contrary advice on escalating or cutting back on the war efforts then changing positions. Effectively shows LBJ as a man caught between a rock and a hard place and making the wrong choices in a war he didn't start or end but tragically escalated. There are some faults. The diction of some of the actors is not clear. Alec Baldwin as McNamara swallows his words. Michael Gambon struggles with a Texas accent too. But he still does a good job at capturing the gruff essence of LBJ.Good movie to watch now the country is embroiled in another terrible conflict. So many lessons to learn. Why is history repeating itself so soon?
robertmike57 When I saw this movie yesterday, I was struck by the language and how it echoed the arguments made now about the Iraq War. In fact, I thought certain phrases were inserted into this movie to criticize the Iraq war as they are the EXACT same things said today about the futility of the the US presence in Iraq, given how "liberals" Donald Sutherland and Alec Baldwin were involved in this project.Then I noticed this movie came out in 2002, BEFORE George Bush decided to invade Iraq.Path to War covers the period of time in US history from Lyndon Johnson was inaugurated in January, 1965 to March, 1968, when he announced he was not seeking a 2nd term for President. We get to view how LBJ was a champion for voting rights and committed to improving the lot of poor Americans with the Great Society. But the movie focuses on how the United States came to get drawn in and bogged down in the Viet Nam war, to the downfall of Johnson. It illustrates how Clark Clark Clifford went from being opposed to the war to being it's most vocal supporter, and how Robert McNamara went from promoting the war to being forced out as Secretary of Defense for coming to opposing the war. How Johnson was tentative about pursuing the war, micromanaging combat operations and the demoralizing effect the Tet Offensive had on this country. The movie has expertly woven in numerous television broadcasts, cartoons and other historic artifacts of the era to drive the point how the Johnson administration acted in carrying out the Viet Nam war and their effects.This is the movie to watch if you want to understand how the Viet Nam war came to be a large conflict with it's divisive effects on this country. It's a movie that should be required viewing for any future President ever contemplating a "small" foreign war in the future.
dromasca It is hard to watch 'Path to War' and avoid remarking the similarity between historic and present circumstances. Although dedicated to the presidency of Lyndon Johnson, the film brings to mind the situations the current US President had to face - after being elected on an internal social agenda, he has to face an external conflict and runs down on a spiral towards an external war costly in American and other peoples human lives. The film is interesting by itself, although there may be many comments to be made on the accuracy of the historical details. 'Path to War' also succeeds better than other films in bringing to screen historical characters and giving them a life of their own - Johnson, Clark Clifford, Bob McNamara are well built film characters in the film. I recommend this film, and not only to the history fans - 8 out of 10 on my personal scale.
Sander Pilon This movie is about America getting dragged into the Vietnam war. It's not about the soldiers, but more about the political background that led to the war.The movie itself presents an interesting view of the events, but I fear that the movie is more suited for a history class at school. It just doesn't entertain enough for that rainy sunday afternoon. It's basically a lot of politicians talking.It's hard to rate this movie - the political background of a war is really fascinating material, in that aspect the movie delivers. But a movie should also be entertainment, and unfortunately this particular movie failed to entertain me.