The Post - Steven Spielberg - Film

I don't know if your suggestion was intended for me, lynette, but if so, I've certainly seen All The President's Men and indeed most major films in this or similar genres, going back decades now. Not quite the same area but I recall struggling in vain to decipher some of the dialogue in The Conversation (1974), which some at the time thought referred to the Watergate Scandal.

Oh dear!  I admit to being a bit fidgety but I thought that might be due to trying not to nod off because it was dark, rather than because the film failed to engage me completely.  But now I'm not sure whether it wasn't a bit of both.  I still think it was fine, just forgettable.

#Streep21

Meryl Streep deserved her 21st Oscar nomination for this (congrats bae, btw!), but it wasn't my kind of film. It dragged a bit, and I didn't know much of the history so didn't care for it too much.

That said, Meryl is Queen, every time she is on that damn screen it just radiates. Its one of her best performances honestly, and she should win her 4th Oscar from my persepctive having now seen all five of the performances.

I think Frances McDormand will have something to say about that this year I'm afraid.

Meryl may have to wait for nomination 22 before she gets another win.

I am the elusive person that absolutely went nuts for this. I felt very emotional watching it with the values that it celebrated and wanted to give it a standing ovation at the end. I must admit that I do have a strong interest in the history - very much enjoyed Ken Burns' The Vietnam War documentary from a few months ago. I can understand how an unfamiliarity with the history might be problematic as a lot of it seemed like prerequisites - i.e. you're supposed *to know* about the rivalry between the Times and the Post, the status of the war at that point in the 70s, how it was a constant problem for Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, and indeed how pernicious Nixon himself was. I admired that especially in contrast to the clunky expositional dialogue of Darkest Hour.

Meryl's performance was as glorious as her kaftan - she was so textured and I found the development of her character throughout the film very compelling. Especially when she doesn't spend a lot of time on the OTT aspects and eccentricities of recent characters like Florence Foster Jenkins, Thatcher, Julia Child and The Witch. Really wonderful, as was Hanks. Spielberg films the scene where all of the major players share the same phone call like it's a Jurassic Park action sequence. I was gripped throughout and very moved by the end. And I found the final scene electrifying.

Fascinating to read all the latest comments. Re Jon's point about "Blockbuster Spielberg", those are exactly the sort of films which repel me and even being forced to watch the trailer for BFG made me fume. I much prefer films on which a director hasn't imposed a particular style or signature treatment, and as for "auteurs"... and re callum's point about emotional engagement with some films, I do recognise this but though other films may, The Post didn't resonate with me in that way - and I loathed Lincoln despite looking forward to it enormously.

If you've not already seen it, I'd have to recommend the Ken Burns Vietnam War documentary as the ideal follow-up viewing. Wholly arresting, and at times a harrowing watch, it doesn't pull its punches, and provides the context for The Post's story that was perhaps absent from the film.

There was a live reading of All the President's Men a couple of days back in LA City Hall, performed by various of the West Wing cast. Which would have been a treat and a half.