(spoiler free)
‘The Post’ is the latest film from directing heavyweight Steven Spielberg and stars Meryl Streep & Tom Hanks. The film tells the true story of the journalists from the newspaper, The Washington Post and their efforts to obtain and publish extracts from the highly classified Pentagon Papers which held years of government secrets regarding the War in Vietnam. Already met with critical acclaim how would Spielberg’s political drama hold up with audiences?
The film is a little slow to start with and it isn’t immediately engaging however it quickly picks up steam and actually flourishes into something quite fascinating. The main focus of this screenplay is on Katharine Graham, the publisher of The Post portrayed by Streep, and her decision on whether or not to publish stories from the top secret documents. I thought this was a thoroughly intriguing choice as many filmmakers would have focused on the subsequent fallout from this decision, but instead Spielberg and the writers really home in on this pivotal decision, presenting a very well rounded view from all those involved. The way Spielberg built the tension around these scenes was fantastic, I wouldn’t have believed just how suspenseful he was able to make phone calls and conversations but he had me hanging off every word. It will be argued that the final act of the film is rushed and depending on which way you look at it there is some truth in that. However, there is a lot to be said about being succinct in storytelling. Already at the two hour mark an elongated final act could have bogged down the proceedings and with an outcome many viewers will already be familiar with I think Spielberg has made a mature choice in allowing much of this drama to take place off screen.
Much of the on screen drama is brought to us by the wonderful Meryl Steep and Tom Hanks. They both play characters not so typical of their usual roles, which immediately grabbed my attention. Hanks plays the no nonsense Executive Editor Ben Bradlee making a change from his usual nice guy roles. Hanks wouldn’t have been my choice for a role like this but he absolutely excels and has an incredibly engaging dynamic with Streep. When we meet her Graham is slightly unsure of herself, daunted by the prospect of being in charge of the paper and it’s legacy. Streep often plays unshakable headstrong women who are not to be messed with so again this made for an interesting change of routine for her. Watching Graham’s development was one of my favourite aspects of the film and this is much credit to Streep’s wonderful performance. Her work here fully warrants awards nominations unlike some of her more recent nominations which haven’t demonstrated her full dramatic ability of which she showcases here. There are a huge number of supporting characters and subsequent cast members. It’s an exciting collection of performers and whilst there are so many characters featured you really do get a sense of what they’re like despite their limited screen time, there’s a real purpose to the casting and performances here which was fantastic to see.
So although the structure & pacing might cause some issues for audiences ‘The Post’ remains an enthralling drama which really showcases the power and responsibility of the press. Spielberg has crafted a captivating piece of film, choosing to put the spotlight on parts of the story which may have been left in the shadows in the hands of another director. The leading and supporting cast are tremendous in their roles and have an irresistible chemistry which moves the narrative along with a brisk fluidity. A newspaper drama took home the Best Picture Oscar a couple of years ago, could we be set for a similar result this year? I’m not so sure, but regardless of it’s success at awards ceremonies ‘The Post’ is another worthy entry into the filmography of a director who’s spent over fifty years in the business.
Written by Hamish Calvert
Rating – 8/10
Question: What is your favourite Spielberg film post 2000?
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