The Post

It wasn't the trailers that got me to see this movie. It was the names Steven Spielberg, Meryl Streep & Tom Hanks and I'm sure that was the case with many who took in this show. I found the film slow at first but thanks to Spielberg's direction, the story began to pick up by the midpoint. "The Post" was enjoyable but unfortunately the director can't carry the whole film. The acting was fine but not special. I think the screenplay tried so hard to be relevant that it lost entertainment value and thankfully Speilberg prevented the film from being too preachy.

It was cool to have a Vietnam scene to open the film. We have seen Spielberg throughout his career depict either briefly or extensively the Civil War, World War I, World War II and the Cold War. Now, with this film, we see a scene of the Vietnam War through Spielberg's eyes. By the end of the film, I understood the reason for the Nixon wedding subplot in the opening half of the film. It represents the way the Washington Post was before the Pentagon Papers. The movie is about the rise of this particular newspaper, as we know it today. Nixon is depicted quite realistically as we can only hear him through a phone line. We are also limited to watching him through the White House window from a distance with his back towards the camera. Considering how infamous Nixon was for his audio recordings while in office, I wonder if that is really Richard Nixon's voice used in this movie. It sure sounds like it. As mentioned, the opening half of the movie was sluggish and hard to follow. Starting with the motel room scene, we finally get some rising action. The movie continues to build momentum as the papers are sorted in the house and as the type is being set at the Post headquarters. I loved the lemonade jokes in the scenes at the Bradlee household and how the film ended at the Watergate. One reason why I like the very ending is it shows that Nixon's battle with the Post is the least of his worries now. I also like the final shot because another one of Hanks' movie characters had something to do with that night. This film is obviously political in its message but Spielberg’s talent shines stronger and that maintains the entertainment value. "The Post" also deals with social issues but the director likewise seems to have held back on being too forward with his audience. I'm guessing it was the screenwriters who were making most of the statements. I didn't think it was needed to have Katherine, on two occasions, make her way through a group of women like a trailblazer. The story itself was enough of a message about women equality. In my opinion, the subtler the message, the stronger the impact once the audience deciphers it. Another decision the filmmakers made that I was grateful for is that Katherine was portrayed as having a lack of self-assurance. It feels more realistic and therefore less preachy. Meryl Streep in "The Iron Lady" was quite preachy by comparison. The historical accuracy of the film is somewhat controversial because the film downplays the role of the New York Times in the story of Pentagon Papers. I feel accuracy is important in this case because if you are going to make a political statement by means of a movie, you should have all your facts straight. Otherwise, by changing the true story, it is hard to accept your statement as credible.

Despite holding back more than other directors would, Spielberg is still sending a political message and the proof of this is how fast he wanted to get production going after reading the script. Considering the political climate currently, he decided to make this film and "Ready Player One" over the same period of time. This isn't the first time Spielberg has done this as he made "Jurassic Park" and "Schindler's List" both at once. I would also argue that "The Adventures of Tintin" and "War Horse" were two overlapping productions of his. Spielberg has his usually colaborators in tow for "The Post" such as his cinematographer Janusz Kaminski. Composer John Williams couldn't compose for both this film and "Ready Player One" and I wish he had done the latter personally. Then again, to have Alan Silvestri composing a new film for Spielberg that features a Delorean is a dream come true. Ever since "Close Encounters of the Third Kind", Michael Kahn has always been the sole film editor of every Spielberg film. For the first time in 40 years with "The Post", Kahn shares the editing credit with another, Sarah Broshar. This is the fifth time that Tom Hanks has performed in a Spielberg movie but this is the first time either man has worked with Meryl Streep. Every time I see a performance by Streep, it is always noteworthy but I can't say it is amazing. I did like the vocal performance of Hanks because he sounds a lot more gruff and cross than I'm used to. His best moment in the movie is when he gives the order to start the presses and all he says is "Run!" I didn't even recognize Bruce Greenwood in this show but I did identify Michael Stuhlbarg, who was in Spielberg’s "Lincoln". This isn't the first time that an Oscar-nominated film for Best Picture received only one other nomination. In fact, "The Blind Side" was nominated for the same Oscars: Best Picture and Best Actress. The difference is that Sandra Bullock was pretty much assured to win where as Meryl Streep was not the frontrunner in 2018. The nominations that "The Post" received do not seem well deserved to me. It seems like these days, Meryl Streep's name is there to simply round out the list. As for the Best Picture nomination, it seems politically motivated. My best piece of evidence stems from the fact that "The Post" got only two nominations as mentioned. If that doesn't say that favourites are being played that I don't know what does. It would be different if Streep had a chance of winning.

I suggest that a good movie to see following "The Post" is Ron Howard's "Frost/Nixon". That film's political statement was more subtle and I admire that while the entertainment value of "The Post" was saved by Spielberg. Hanks and Streep also helped a little I guess. I am glad the film had rising action and that is one quality that will help most people enjoy this movie.

3.5 Stars out of 5