Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep in The Post/20th Century FoxA better title would have been: I, Katharine , since it's all about her.
The Post is a lesson in history for all, one that every journalist will want to see.
The timing of its release to coincide with the pub date of Michael Wolff 's Fire and Fury is prescient or just lucky (likely, the latter), to say the least. That we are dealing with the same issues today, almost 50 years after the publication of the Pentagon Papers and the effort by the President of the United States, Richard M. Nixon, to silence publication of critical documents important for the livelihood of the union, is alarming.
The actual Nixon tapes are used effectively in shadowy scenes at the "White House" while Curzon Dobell, who portrays the president, stands with his back to the camera and speaks into a telephone.
The movie becomes a bit soppy when "Ms. Graham" sits on a twin bed and talks with her daughter while her granddaughters sleep together in the adjacent bed (?). The inclusion of this scene and too many references to "Oh dear, I am a woman and no one takes me seriously" was annoying. Please.
The screen writers seem to try to bring some modernity to the piece and we can thank them for omitting the suggested, what-would-have-been-a gratuitous sex scene with Benjamin Bradlee (Tom Hanks) and his wife at the time, Tony (Sarah Paulson. Was she really the fluff bunny the writers made her here?)
One can't help but compare the 1971 U.S. Supreme Court membership (which voted 6-3 to release the papers) to today's group and predict a vote now on the public's right to know: With Justices Thomas, Alito, Gorsuch, and probably Roberts voting to suppress, and Ginsburg, Kagan, and Sotomayor voting to release, the outcome might depend upon Justices Breyer and Kennedy, ending in 5-4 affirmation, one can hope.
Congratulations to the screen writer, Liz Hannah, age 32, whose original idea was immediately snatched up by Amy Pascal and Steven Spielberg who happened to find the leading stars, Ms. Streep and Mr. Hanks, available on short notice to film. (Funny how things work.)
I doubt that many millennials have any familiarity with the Pentagon Papers since it preceded their births, and with the increasing demise of history taught in school, this ignorance may reduce the film's attendance. But, there are still many old journalists around who will rush to see it
I am happy Daniel Ellsberg, 86, is still alive to see himself again preserving the union.
Tom Hanks is outstanding, natch, and there is no one who can top Meryl Streep's acting ability. Never mind that the screens are saturated with her and that, egads! Another rendition of Mamma Mia! (groan) is due out this summer. (The first one cured me of any affinity for Streep in a musical.)
At Rotten Tomatoes 88% of the critics liked The Post (no surprise) but what is surprising is the far lower "liked it" score (70%) by audience members.
The 4:40 p.m. screening at Tysons Corner on opening day was almost sold out with audience applause and gasps (the opening of a door) at the end, but that's the last time I feel compelled to see a movie on its opening, given the outrageous prices for entrance and treats. Cinema Arts is well worth the wait.
Oscar nominations:
Best Actor: Tom Hanks
Best Actress: Meryl Streep (should win but I don't want her to win since she's been nominated 20 (!) times and won three! Please, can the judges bestow Oscar on someone else?)
Best Picture (which is Shape of Water, but since this is the "Year of the Woman," Lady Bird probably will win)
Best Director: Steven Spielberg
Best costuming: (Oh, those dresses looked really, really bad but nicely done by Ann Roth. I never thought of Katharine Graham as being overweight like portrayed by Streep.)
Best Set and Production Design: Rena DeAngelo and Rick Carter (The recreation of the printing press process from 50 years ago is staggering.)
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