Several Washington Post journalists in Steven Spielberg’s “The Post” huddle around a television to catch the Supreme Court’s famous 1971 New York Times Co. v. United States verdict. Photo Fair Use of www.Rotten Tomatoes.com
“The Post,” now playing at Beechwood Cinema and GTC University Cinemas, is a timely period drama that tells a compelling narrative speaking to the importance of journalistic integrity.
Some stories are timeless. Others are relevant. “The Post,” directed by Steven Spielberg, is a rare film that happens to be both. It’s a savvy political thriller set during the early 1970s that follows Meryl Streep as Katharine Graham and Tom Hanks as Ben Bradlee as they fight against all odds to publish the top secret “Pentagon Papers” in the Washington Post.
To expose decades of lies by the Eisenhower, Kennedy and Johnson administrations, the staff of the newspaper must confront the corrupt Nixon presidency through the federal court system to reveal the truth.
In the current era of social media and “fake news,” the debate over the media’s role in modern society has never been more crucial.
According to IMDb, director Steven Spielberg aimed to shoot and produce the movie as quickly as possible to capitalize on the current political climate and tumultuous presidency of Donald Trump. In this regard, the theatrical release of “The Post” was perfectly timed.
Aided by the aforementioned leads and their strong performances, “The Post” is a movie slightly reminiscent of “All the President’s Men” in its execution and subject matter. Although it starts a bit slow, the payoff, in the end, more than compensates for the pacing issues. There’s great satisfaction in observing the plot elements as they’re introduced and watching them unfold in the final act.
“The Post” is an excellent film and one that speaks truth to power. While some may fairly criticize the pace of the film, it is without a doubt a solid retelling of the brave endeavors of the New York Times and Washington Post.
Journalistic integrity is a valuable facet of American society — one that should hold those in power accountable when necessary. Sometimes we briefly lose sight of that fact. Luckily, there are movies like “The Post,” and actors like Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep to reinforce them.
