Some might call it timely…
Others will point out that things haven’t changed much since the Richard Nixon era.
Whatever your politics, you may find a fascinating insight into our s0-called freedom of the press in producer-director Steven Spielberg‘s new historical drama, THE POST.
The political thriller pits Katharine Graham, the first female publisher of a major American newspaper against the Nixon administration after the competing New York Timeshad first exposed the so-called Pentagon Papers –a secret study and cover-up of our involvement in Vietnam..
To say that Nixon was furious would be an understatement as he threatened imprisonment of the Times‘ management if it continued to publish the secret papers.
Well the Times caved to the threats leaving the Pentagon Papers to be leaked instead to The Washington Post.
Would its management fold as well?
Guess again.
Its then editor Ben Bradlee saw it as an opportunity to one-up the Times.
Just one problem. He had to first convince publisher Graham of his intentions which could have had serious consequences.
Which way to turn?
We all know the outcome, but how The Post got there makes for a fascinating political thriller—especially since it is based on real events which went down in the early 1970’s.
All that plus a terrific cast including Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, Sarah Paulson and Bob Odenkirk among others and you’re in for top notch, big screen entertainment.
Oh, and director Spielberg wisely (again) chose John Williams to score this fast-moving newspaper melodrama with a tight running time of just under two hours.
Think of it as the prequel to ALL THE PRESIDENT’S MEN—and Watergate.
THE POST grades a B+ as it opens wide this weekend.
JACK GOES TO THE MOVIES Friday mornings during Kansas City’s Morning News on 98.1 FM, KMBZ.
I’ll check it out based on your recommendation.
Better not disappoint me, Jack.