Jay Roach, director of HBO's "All The Way"

On May 21st -- that's Saturday for those keeping score at home -- HBO will premiere "All The Way," which tells the story of Lyndon Johnson (Bryan Cranston) starting just after the assassination of John F. Kennedy and ending after the presidential election of 1964. Based on the stageplay by Robert Schenkken (also starring Cranston) the film dives into Johnson's personality, his insecurities and ambitions, as well as the complicated politics involved in passing the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and LBJ's uncomfortable alliance with Martin Luther King Jr. (Anthony Mackie).

It's two hours well spent, to say the least, and particularly interesting given our current political season. We spoke with director Jay Roach (Trumbo, Austin Powers, Meet the Parents, Game Change) about the film. It was a great conversation, filled with insight into the challenges of historical drama, working with a high end cast (which also includes Frank Langella, Melissa Leo, and Bradley Whitford, among others) and much more.