The Post (B+ or 3.5/4 stars)
Wait, a Steven Spielberg-directed political drama starring Meryl Streep & Tom Hanks? Too good to be true! And yet, it IS true -- and it's pretty darn good. 'The Post' follows the events in the late 1960s & early '70s leading up to the controversial publication of a classified study about the Vietnam War known as the Pentagon Papers in the Washington Post, after it was first leaked to the NY Times. Katharine Graham (Streep) is - at the time - the publisher of said Washington Post. She is ALSO the first woman in the U.S. to helm a major newspaper -- a job she took over upon the sudden death {from suicide} of her husband. Her strong-willed, hot-tempered Executive Editor, Ben Bradlee (Hanks) managed to get his hands on the classified documents {4,000 pages to suss out!} exposing the lies surrounding the Vietnam War, first given to The NY Times by whistle-blower Daniel Ellsberg (Matthew Rhys); who, in 1966 (in Vietnam), wrote about the war & its deadly futility.
Ellsberg's conversation about his concerns with Defense Sec. Robert McNamara (Bruce Greenwood) doesn't go anywhere, though McNamara does express frustration about Vietnam. However, when McNamara does a complete turnaround IN public about the war's "successes"(!), Ellsberg then decides to release the Pentagon Papers. All of this is occurring the same time the Post, a small family-owned publication, wants to go public with the damning political evidence. Bradlee & his diligent staff (including characters played by Carrie Coon & Bob Odenkirk) want to run with the classified docs, but "Kay" Graham's advisors (like stern Bradley Whitford, Michael Stuhlbarg & Tracy Letts) are cautioning against it strongly. Releasing the docs could lead to Nixon's wrath, arrests & treason; which would be catastrophic for their futures, as well as that of her newspaper. The ultimate decision is a tough one, made even more so because, as a woman, Kay Graham faces an uphill battle in being taken seriously by her male counterparts. Drama ensues.
Steven Spielberg has done it again; creating a wholly intelligent, engaging, elegant biopic that is catnip for fans of his and the actors involved. 'The Post' has an old-fashioned movie feel to it, but with Spielberg's expert touch & superb crafts team. Janusz Kaminski's cinematography has a lived-in, grainy look that makes everything seem very authentic {I was reminded of Spielberg's similarly effective camerawork & production design in 2006's Munich}. The period details, sets {meticulously recreating 1970's newsrooms & luxurious mansions} & costumes {Streep's caftan is pretty amazing, haha} are all stellar. The sound design is notable; an opening war scene exemplifies that. And John Williams - working double duty this year with his Last Jedi music - offers up another solid original score.
Streep & Hanks rivet in this timely defense of the press & its freedom to expose corruption to those in political power. Spielberg did a brilliant thing in chronicling how Kay Graham dealt with the enormous decision {rife with consequences} to publish the top-secret papers ... all while putting more powerful men in their place. With so much at stake, we watch as Kay observes & listens to her condescending ALL-male advisors & then makes her OWN rogue decision. Meryl Streep is - shock of all shocks - FANTASTIC as Katharine Graham; a wealthy, smart, but soft-willed woman thrust into her family business' leadership role after her husband's unexpected suicide. There is a moment late in the film in which Streep must make a split-second decision on the telephone with no less than 5 people on the line awaiting the next thing out of her mouth; and Streep plays this pivotal moment for all of the tension it deserves -- her reaction set my theater ablaze. Streep embodies this character; giving an arc that ranges from timid & unsure to assured & powerful. And she always does so with the most effective vocal & physical inflections.
Hanks is wonderful, too. It's a master class in acting to watch Streep & Hanks share a scene together -- how has this never happened before now!? Really, the entire ensemble - awesome 'on paper' - all lend greatly to the proceedings. You know, 'The Post' could not be more timely with the current administration threatening the freedom of the press. Given today's tumultuous political climate, it's easy to see how this dramatic {if also funny, in spots} biopic is wholly relevant; relevant in capturing the importance of investigative journalism {Spotlight, much?}, relevant in showing how necessary it is to expose deceit & corruption, and relevant in showing how women in power STILL struggle in men-dominated fields. Assured, hefty, entertaining filmmaking ... Spielberg has done it again.
Ellsberg's conversation about his concerns with Defense Sec. Robert McNamara (Bruce Greenwood) doesn't go anywhere, though McNamara does express frustration about Vietnam. However, when McNamara does a complete turnaround IN public about the war's "successes"(!), Ellsberg then decides to release the Pentagon Papers. All of this is occurring the same time the Post, a small family-owned publication, wants to go public with the damning political evidence. Bradlee & his diligent staff (including characters played by Carrie Coon & Bob Odenkirk) want to run with the classified docs, but "Kay" Graham's advisors (like stern Bradley Whitford, Michael Stuhlbarg & Tracy Letts) are cautioning against it strongly. Releasing the docs could lead to Nixon's wrath, arrests & treason; which would be catastrophic for their futures, as well as that of her newspaper. The ultimate decision is a tough one, made even more so because, as a woman, Kay Graham faces an uphill battle in being taken seriously by her male counterparts. Drama ensues.
Steven Spielberg has done it again; creating a wholly intelligent, engaging, elegant biopic that is catnip for fans of his and the actors involved. 'The Post' has an old-fashioned movie feel to it, but with Spielberg's expert touch & superb crafts team. Janusz Kaminski's cinematography has a lived-in, grainy look that makes everything seem very authentic {I was reminded of Spielberg's similarly effective camerawork & production design in 2006's Munich}. The period details, sets {meticulously recreating 1970's newsrooms & luxurious mansions} & costumes {Streep's caftan is pretty amazing, haha} are all stellar. The sound design is notable; an opening war scene exemplifies that. And John Williams - working double duty this year with his Last Jedi music - offers up another solid original score.
Streep & Hanks rivet in this timely defense of the press & its freedom to expose corruption to those in political power. Spielberg did a brilliant thing in chronicling how Kay Graham dealt with the enormous decision {rife with consequences} to publish the top-secret papers ... all while putting more powerful men in their place. With so much at stake, we watch as Kay observes & listens to her condescending ALL-male advisors & then makes her OWN rogue decision. Meryl Streep is - shock of all shocks - FANTASTIC as Katharine Graham; a wealthy, smart, but soft-willed woman thrust into her family business' leadership role after her husband's unexpected suicide. There is a moment late in the film in which Streep must make a split-second decision on the telephone with no less than 5 people on the line awaiting the next thing out of her mouth; and Streep plays this pivotal moment for all of the tension it deserves -- her reaction set my theater ablaze. Streep embodies this character; giving an arc that ranges from timid & unsure to assured & powerful. And she always does so with the most effective vocal & physical inflections.
Hanks is wonderful, too. It's a master class in acting to watch Streep & Hanks share a scene together -- how has this never happened before now!? Really, the entire ensemble - awesome 'on paper' - all lend greatly to the proceedings. You know, 'The Post' could not be more timely with the current administration threatening the freedom of the press. Given today's tumultuous political climate, it's easy to see how this dramatic {if also funny, in spots} biopic is wholly relevant; relevant in capturing the importance of investigative journalism {Spotlight, much?}, relevant in showing how necessary it is to expose deceit & corruption, and relevant in showing how women in power STILL struggle in men-dominated fields. Assured, hefty, entertaining filmmaking ... Spielberg has done it again.