Yep, the way the movie depicted, multiple times across various scenes, feeble attempts to open the car door - all the while NOT showing how the diver eventually did get in, makes it clear in my mind that the makers wanted to convey, not explicitly, but implicitly, that Dead was not in the car at the end. Did not previously know about the doors possibly being locked from the inside - just presumed that water pressure and/or twisted door jambs prevented doors from opening.
Do not know enough about the dad, to think much one way or another about Dern’s role playing Joe. Seemed good to me, how about you? Nice slap! I noticed they only showed Dead’s face, and not how a struggling crippled man could do it with such force. Very poignant.
Dern is great. I think he says “Alibi” twice. Then the slap.
I’ve read a couple books and watched several Doc and interviews of the diver and other investigators.
The passenger side window was shattered, so suspect that’s how the diver got in. I’ve read that all the doors were locked. That’s scary. Would the electrical system still be working underwater, if so, maybe Mary Jo tried to open the doors and couldn’t. Pitch black. Scary esp if she were down there for more than an hour.
The trunk was completely empty, and full of air when the car was brought out.
The one investigator from a rather lengthy documentary was convincing regarding how very difficult it is to get out of submerged car, in daylight when it’s right side up.
He said, turned over and in the dark would be virtually impossible for anyone other than someone in scuba and seasoned.
He also said in investigating countless crashes into water, the passenger would bare the brunt of injuries. Mary Joe had not a scratch on her, not a bruise, no broken nails. She was .09% alcohol, so she was pretty buzzed.
In short, a lot of investigators have said Kennedy was not driving. So, if true why would he say he was driving?
1. He had passed out drunk, and the last thing he remembered he was driving.
2. He decided that it was better to say he was driving to avoid a lot of questions.
I think he took a dingy back to the hotel, just like it’s depicted in the movie.
Did he go back to the party and solicit help of Joe Gargon and Markham? I don’t know. Those two are convincing in the movie. It’s almost impossible to get three people to lie. Gargon was basically disowned by the Kennedy’s and never spoken to again, so I suspect Kennedy did go back to the party, smashed on his butt. I think he probably had no recollection of anything.
Who knows?