The Post: the one you shouldn't miss.
The Post : *****
US | English | Drama | Thriller
Cast: Meryl Streep; Tom Hanks; Sarah Paulson; Bob Odenkirk; Bradley Whitford; Bruce Greenwood;
Duration: 116 minutes
Release: Dec 2017
Plot: (Wiki)
A cover-up that spanned four U.S. presidents pushed the country's first female newspaper publisher, Kay Graham (Streep) of The Washington Post, and its hard-driving editor, Ben Bradlee (Hanks), to join an unprecedented battle between journalism and government in publishing the Pentagon Papers.
Review:
The post directed by Steven Spielberg is like a soup make by too many extraordinary chefs and still turns out to be the best soup you ever had. Starring actors like Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, Bob Odenkirk, Bradley Whitford, Bruce Greenwood the period drama is a reminder of good old fashion cinema.
The film based on Watergate coverage that eventually led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon, shows everything worth knowing--truth - and not romantic representation of the time-- about 1970's without an effort.
Katharine Graham (Streep) then owner of The Washington Post struggles to hold on to her company as she tries to take the paper public as a listed company.
Women though had jobs and were seen as individuals it was still a Man's world. Graham feels pressured and manipulate by board members and investers to give up her post to a man. While she refuses to back down, it does not mean she is not fluttered every time her decisions are questioned. Streep plays the character immensely accurate. From waking up with glasses in her hands to the shift in her voice when in self-doubt makes her come alive.
While she is facing the board she is confronted with the biggest decision of her life. Tom Hanks plays Post's editor, Ben Bradlee. The first screen when you see two together, the tone of their relationship is set right then, within few seconds. "Get your finger out of my eye, Katharine" he yells at her and she hums around not backing down.
The story continues to unfold in the newspaper world as The Washington Post struggles to the New York times fame. Times, then features a shocking piece based on leaked Pentagon Papers. The highly classified government study of U.S. involvement in Vietnam, that contained top-secret information that spanned two decades and covered both Republican and Democratic presidential administrations. Completely changing the world as they know.
Publishing the piece got them barred by law from publishing any further news from the government's agency.
While Bradlee wants to publish the leaked papers it also means that The Washington Post may cease to exist. Ben Bagdikian played by Bob Odenkirk, the underdog becomes the story's hero when he gets his hands on the entire 7000 pages long study from Daniel Ellsberg.
While the world is enraged after Times's publication. Graham has to decide if she wants to be governed as a publisher or she wants to loose the family company that she has been giving her everything for over 2 decades.
The 5 minute phone in which she has to make the decision, is a very simple but an intense scene. You know she is going to say yes, that's history. But to watch Streep lead to that moment is chilling. To stand up to the men in her life opposing her and to do it with pride and humor is very exciting and satisfying to watch.
The movie is so focused on the papers, that it neglects the rest of the world but it does not forget to show the impact there action have that bring for a new society. "I always wanted to be part of a revolution' this line by Ben Bagdikian covers everything that has been going out in the world. That one line is enough to show how much is at stake apart from the compnay.
There are scenes in the film when Graham is walking by other women who are just secretaries and clerks standing outside the board room while she walks in to the room. In that moment it does not seem like she notices the effect she has on the women.
But in the end when The Washington Post wins the case against Nixon's Governance, she sees these women out side the court house looking up to her to the change she brings in society as a women.
This change brought through the entire movie a new color to Graham's Character.
Verdict: A revolutionary film about a revolution.
***** stars
By chance did you hate Tom in the start of the movie, cuz I did! Until his wife made an effort to explain it to him what the company means to Katharine, and he goes to apologize.
That's when it all changed.
Don't forget to hit the hit heart to your right on your way out!
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