The Post is a political thriller following the true story of Katharine Graham, of the Washington Post, the first female publisher and Fortune 500 CEO in the US, and her editor Ben Bradlee. They are rushing against public and political outcry to unveil a mass cover-up that was done by the federal government about the Vietnam War. The Post is a very appealing movie about press freedom and the importance of publishing the truth, even when it is not the safest option. The story follows Graham and Bradlee as they find out about government secrets that were revealed to them through the New York Times. The Times could not continue to publish due to a lawsuit by President Richard Nixon. This brought up many legal questions regarding the first amendment, the freedom of the press and what the media is allowed to share with the public.
The biggest appeal of this movie, even before watching it, is that it is packed with Hollywood giants, with the legendary Meryl Streep playing Graham, none other than Tom Hanks playing Bradlee, and Steven Spielberg as director. The cast also includes other well known actresses Sarah Paulson and Alison Brie. They all played their parts phenomenally, and the delivery of the characters made the story feel that much more real. The energy between Hanks and Streep was amazing, and their relationship made the emotions between them feel raw and genuine.
My first thought while watching The Post was that the cinematography was very nicely done, the film itself was very visually appealing and provoked curiosity. There were several shots from odd, tilted angles that made the visuals more interesting, and the lighting in several of the more intense scenes was very effective in encouraging the tone. There were plenty of creative themes and use of sound that made this drama feel unpredictable and refreshing. There were several moments where you would feel yourself encouraging the characters to make the right choices and stand up for themselves. At the climax of the movie, Graham realizes she must either decide to publish and face prosecution and lose her business, or keep it safe and stay a small, safe, local newspaper.
One of the most powerful parts of this film is the major, currently relevant themes it discusses. Not only does it address the First Amendment, freedom of press and the power of the federal government, it also addresses sexism. This is the most prominent, with Streep portraying the strength and resilience of Graham despite constant adversity. The Post did a phenomenal job of showing how Graham grew over time to be brave enough to stand up for herself and her paper. She decided to publish despite scrutiny about her ability to lead from her male colleagues. It shows her as a role model for other women and a leader for her company. Streep showed Graham’s passion void of any egotistical motivations, and her ability to stand firmly on her beliefs.
Overall, The Post is a moving, thrilling and emotional movie, with a new take on a story that could easily be described as old news. This movie holds a powerful message that is both appealing and entertaining for audiences of all backgrounds; I would highly recommend going to see it in theaters.
The Pathfinder gives The Post a 9/10.
