United States of Kennedy

Episode: “Film of the Month: Chappaquiddick (2018)”

Hosts: Lyra Smith, George Civeris
Guest: Jason Concepcion
Original Air Date: September 15, 2025

Episode Overview

This installment of United States of Kennedy spotlights the 2018 film Chappaquiddick, which dramatizes the infamous 1969 incident involving Senator Ted Kennedy and the death of Mary Jo Kopechne. Hosts Lyra Smith and George Civeris are joined by critic and podcaster Jason Concepcion to deeply discuss how the film handles its controversial subject, its cinematic choices, and why it ultimately fails to provide either dramatic catharsis or meaningful insight into its characters or the Kennedy dynasty itself.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Film’s Approach to the Chappaquiddick Incident

• The movie recounts the canonical version of events: Ted Kennedy’s car plunges into Pocha Pond, resulting in Mary Jo Kopechne’s death, and the subsequent political cover-up.
• The hosts summarize for listeners:

  “They’re having the party, Ted and Mary Jo leave to go talk... He just starts driving like a bat out of hell, crashes into the pond and then leaves her there.”
  (Lyra Smith, 08:31)

• Notably, the film leans into the theory that Kopechne might have survived for some time in an air pocket, and could potentially have been saved if Kennedy sought help.

  “...It endorses the idea that she maybe didn’t drown, but in fact suffocated in the air...she could have been saved if Ted had gone and sought help earlier.”
  (George Civeris & Jason Concepcion, 09:55-10:03)

2. Dramatic and Thematic Shortcomings

• The hosts and Jason largely agree the film is competently made but dramatically inert, failing to take a strong stance or explore the deeper motivations of its characters.

  "If Mr. Curran had a point, he might have forgotten what it was...I left this movie confused about what we just did."
  (Jason Concepcion, 07:39-08:31)

• Lyra and George compare it to other political movies like Oliver Stone’s JFK, bemoaning Chappaquiddick’s aversion to speculation, provocation, or visual audacity.

  “I wish Oliver Stone had directed this.”
  (Lyra Smith, 11:15)

3. Ted Kennedy’s Character: More Cipher Than Man

• The hosts stress the lack of insight into what actually drove Ted Kennedy, both as a politician and as a man.

  "Who the fuck are these weirdos? What drives them?"
  (Jason Concepcion, 12:57)

• The film’s version: a passive, indecisive man in the shadow of his famous family, but never brought fully to dramatic life.

  “He is just passive and not canny the entire time...he's not a good politician, so to speak.”
  (George Civeris, 12:09)

4. Missed Opportunities for Point of View

• The discussion returns frequently to the film’s neutrality—its refusal to pick a moral or psychological position.

  “There’s nothing worse than a safe movie.”
  (Jason Concepcion, 34:58)

• Jason proposes the movie should have chosen a point of view:

  “Here's a stance: I think Ted Kennedy had an uplifting vision...and the tragedy...is he threw that all away...Another take is Ted Kennedy was a piece of shit. But instead, we don't know. Like, there is no stance.”
  (Jason Concepcion, 18:54)

• The hosts also lament that the movie avoids depicting the party’s social dynamics or the scandalous undertones involving the married men present.

5. Structural and Cinematic Choices

• The film’s visual language and structure are discussed as confusing and uninspired, rarely serving to heighten tension or reveal character.

  “The way that it is shot, the way that it is framed in most scenes was confusing to me...It’s almost like everyone’s chest is the bottom of the frame.”
  (Lyra Smith, 21:01)

• The chronological, procedural storytelling is criticized for draining the narrative of energy. Jason suggests an alternative:

  “They should have birdmanned this movie—one shot from the evening and the accident all the way through...”
  (Jason Concepcion, 24:29)

6. Reception, Controversy, and Industry Fallout

• The film’s muted box office and limited critical response are recounted. Jason says:

  “You can make a regular bad movie, but if you're gonna make a bad, boring movie and you're taking a huge shot with Chappaquiddick, then you do run the risk of movie jail.”
  (Jason Concepcion, 40:20)

• George points out that despite the right-wing embrace of the film as “Hollywood finally bashing Democrats,” most audiences simply didn’t care.

  “It's almost like it never existed...for everyone else it just didn't make an impact. It is a completely forgotten movie.”
  (George Civeris, 42:05)

7. What Did Work?

• The hosts and guest concede that the portrayal of Mary Jo Kopechne, though minimal, was among the film’s strongest elements.

  “She is, in a weird way, the most complex character...wrestling with a lot. She's not just a symbol of innocent, beautiful brunette.”
  (George Civeris, 28:00)

• The party scene is cited as effective in depicting the allure of Kennedy connections and the transactional nature of ambition.

  “That beginning scene, the party does a good job of giving you a sense of why you would attach yourselves to this family...”
  (Jason Concepcion, 29:43)

8. Imagining a Better Film

• As the discussion closes, all agree the story deserves stronger storytelling, perhaps focusing on Mary Jo’s point of view or adopting a bolder, riskier formal approach.

  “This movie should have been about Mary Jo. You follow her throughout the day, she's talking about her aspirations...”
  (Jason Concepcion, 44:55)

• The hosts joke about collaborating on a “Mary Jo’s perspective” script for the Hollywood Black List.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the film's lack of direction:

  “It was a movie that has a beginning, a middle, and an end. And Kate Mara is phenomenal in it.”
  (George Civeris, 04:44)

• On the missed dramatic opportunity:

  “There's nothing worse than a safe movie. Particularly a safe movie about something where someone died and...changed the course of history, right? Why any episode of Mad Men is better than this.”
  (Jason Concepcion, 34:56)

• On the party scene's untapped tension:

  “Every single man there is married...you shoot that party as a debaucherous, crazy event...but they don't do that. At least paint a picture.”
  (Lyra Smith & George Civeris, 34:17–34:44)

• On the protagonist problem:

  “At one point I wrote down who is the protagonist? I did feel that way watching it. It’s so dryly depicted...”
  (Lyra Smith, 17:44)

• On how a stronger POV would improve the film:

  "You wish they would have just drizzled some hot sauce into this film. Make it from the perspective of Mary Jo. She's a ghost. Do something crazy, man."
  (Jason Concepcion, 43:45)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:38] Jason’s vivid personal memory of the Chappaquiddick event and initial reactions
• [04:08–04:39] Hosts summarize the film’s cast and version of events
• [06:09–07:29] Jason critiques the adaptation, discussing the film’s most affecting scenes
• [09:55–10:21] Debate over Kopechne’s supposed cause of death
• [11:15–12:09] Reductive characterization of Ted Kennedy and missed dramatic opportunities
• [18:54–19:55] On the film’s lack of a stance and awkward “fathers and sons” angle
• [21:01–21:49] Commentary on odd cinematography and framing
• [22:57–23:43] Right-wing embrace of the movie and its faint culture war afterlife
• [28:00–30:15] Discussion of Mary Jo Kopechne as the most complex character
• [34:44–35:28] Frustration over the movie’s refusal to be dramatic, campy, or formally daring
• [39:33–41:23] Industry fallout and career consequences for the filmmakers
• [44:17–45:39] Proposal for a Mary Jo-centered version of the story
• [46:20–47:04] Reality check on what kinds of Kennedy projects get green-lit

Episode Conclusion

The consensus: Chappaquiddick is a film of untapped potential—a technically competent but dramatically formless recounting of an event that changed American history. The hosts and guest agree that films about power, morality, and the Kennedy mystique require not just craft, but perspective and guts—a point this movie fatally fails to grasp.

Final thought:

"This movie should have been about Mary Jo...I feel like we've ragged on it so much that the three of us need to write the Mary Jo Kopechne version of Chappaquiddick."
(Lyra Smith & Jason Concepcion, 47:04)

Next week: The trial of William Kennedy Smith and the dawn of wall-to-wall TV courtroom coverage.