The Newspapers | #KarenTalks
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Back to the game. Today I bring you another Best Picture nominee and what I now consider my second runner-up for winner (and unlike Call Me By Your Name, I actually believe this one might take the prize). Although it is undoubtly an 'Oscars bait'-type of film, it is absolutely amazing and, as a journalist myself, a thrilling and entertaining story.
The Post tells the true story of The Washington Post journalists attempting to publish pages of classified documents regarding the 30-year involvement of the United States government in the Vietnam War, known as the Pentagon Papers. Although, the real game-changer in real life was the New York Times, the film focuses not only on The Post -overshadowing the NYT; which is pretty much the only bad thing I consider the movie has- but also on Meryl Steep's character Katharine Graham, a powerful, pioneer, woman who ran the Post from 1963 until her death in 2001. She (along with the art of journalism itself, to me) is the true core of the film.
When I learned the co-writer of Academy Awards Best Picture winner Spotlight, Josh Singer, was also involved in the writing of this one I knew it had to be a good one. And I was right.
The film's story is exciting, thrilling, it makes you think, it makes you feel angry and bitter. It's not an emotional roller-coaster like most Best Picture nominees; it's an inspiring movie. Especially in these days where media and the press is so often critized and downplayed and silenced by powerful governments. The quote when we're getting near the very end of the movie resonated so much with me, as a venezuelan journalist; it's still stuck in my head and will be stuck for a long time.
Streep's performance, as usual, is absolutely flawless. In here, she plays a different kind of strong woman, and I found her role not only very believable and relatable but original and something I had stopped seeing in regular female characters. She forces herself to be strong, asks men for opinions because she's made to believe she's not good enough, she falters and she fears but she is so courageous and strong, it's moving.
And Tom Hanks, in the role of Ben Bradlee, deserves a huge shoutout, too. Hell, he deserved an Oscar nomination and I'm slightly bitter he didn't get one. He's fierce and pushes forward into the story, he's the real journalist representation the film has. Doesn't quit, wants more. Also, the way he touched on the relationship of a journalist with their source(s) made me nod in realization.
This absolute gem of political thriller and journalism earned a very special place on my shelf of really good movies, so I give it:
I see you @eskarenj! Keep the reviews coming!
Thanks! Heheh, I'll try ;)