All the President's Men

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All the President's Men

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All the President's Men

Dustin Hoffman, Robert Redford, Jack Warden, Martin Balsam, Hal Holbrook

Conspiracy film specialist Alan J. Pakula turned journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein's best-selling account of their Watergate investigation into one of the hit films of Bicentennial year 1976... read more read more.... While researching a story about a botched 1972 burglary of Democratic Party headquarters at the Watergate apartment complex, green Washington Post reporters/rivals Woodward (Robert Redford, who also exec produced) and Bernstein (Dustin Hoffman) stumble on a possible connection between the burglars and a White House staffer. With the circumspect approval of executive editor Ben Bradlee (Jason Robards), the pair digs deeper. Aided by a guilt-ridden turncoat bookkeeper (Jane Alexander) and the vital if cryptic guidance of Woodward's mystery source, Deep Throat (Hal Holbrook), Woodward and Bernstein "follow the money" all the way to the top of the Nixon administration. Despite Deep Throat's warnings that their lives are in danger, and the reluctance of older Post editors, Woodward and Bernstein are determined to get out the story of the crime and its presidential cover-up. Once Bradlee is convinced, the final teletype impassively taps out the historically explosive results. ~ Lucia Bozzola, Rovi

Id: 10906720

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All the President's Men Recent Reviews
  • cosmo313
    December 27, 2011
    cosmo313
    This is the story of a couple of journalists for the Washington Post named Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein who, in the wake of a break in at the Watergate Hotel, stumble upon a deep and major conspiracy that eventually led to the first ever resignation of a U.S. President. It's a... read more compelling and fascinating story, made even more potent, compelling, and biting by the fact that it's all true.

    This films gets all kinds of (deserved) accliam, but I must be honest and say that this is a difficult film. You have to be able to sit through something that is both lengthy and deliberately paced, and is more about plot, dialogue, and atmosphere that is heavy on suspense, yet light on visceral action and payoffs. For the most part, I was able to sit through it just fine. I did start to get antsy, but the film never really fully lost my attention or pushed me to the breaking point.

    It takes a lot of talent to make a film that is mostly people taking notes, typing, and talking (usually on phones) watchable and interesting, and that's the case here. Again, it helps that this film is about a real event, making it relatable to audiences (especially those who sawe it when it came out). It''s not really all that dated though, at least not in a bad or even kitschy way. It's a love letter to patience, determination, investigative journalism, and following a story, even if the odds seem overwhelming and the outlook grim.

    The art direction is pitch perfect, and the way the films shows the workings of a 70s newsroom is awesome, or at least I thought so. I want more movies like this that have a high sense of realism in capturing a workplace. The conematography by Gordon Willis is absolutely brilliant, and everything comes alive thanks to some excellent use of shadows and light, nice framing, and effectively employed camera angles. Aside form the actors, it's the real star of the show...and speaking of stars: Dustin Hoffman as Carl Bernstein and Robert Redford as Bob Woodward? Perfect. The two have great chemistry together, and a real sense of comraderie, even though they aren't best friends or have the same views, opinions, and beliefs. Woodward is less experienced, but still very determined, even if self involved. Bernstein is more experienced, but sometiimes a bit too sharp for his own good. The performances are wonderful though, and perfectly embody these characters. Jason Robards shines as their boss Ben Bradlee, and Hal Holbrook is quite great as Deep Throat- the key information provider to Woodward who managed to remain anonymous until 2005.

    It's no secret (to a lot of people) that I have a love for the 70s and 70s cinema that might be a little detrimental on my judgment. However, this is still an excelelnt film, and remains the high water mark for films about journalism. It's an important film that not only does a great job of capturing the investigation into one of the most notable events in 20th Century American history, but also works as a great cultural and historical tool, providing insight into the time period (both that it portrays and the one it was made in). As I said, this is a hard one to endure, but if you have the fortitude, it's profoundly rewarding.
  • mumby1988
    May 14, 2011
    mumby1988
    1976 saw the release of two great films about journalism which remain gripping and compelling even though the professions they examined have long since changed dramatically. In one corner, we have Network, a film which anticipated the move towards ratings-driven TV news with a ca... read morereer-best performance from Peter Finch. In the other corner, we have All The President's Men, perhaps the greatest film ever made about print journalism and one of the all-time greatest thrillers.

    The first miracle of All The President's Men is that it manages to be a superbly tense conspiracy thriller even though we already know what the conspiracy is. Films which attempt to capture the political or social zeitgeist (in this case the fall of Richard Nixon) either date very badly or are often found wanting dramatically; they presume that there is no need to do the legwork, since we know how it ends even before we start.

    All The President's Men gets the balance absolutely pitch-perfect between the facts and the drama. Robert Redford, who also produced the film, insisted that everything that played out on screen was factually accurate, to the point of liaising between screenwriter William Goldman and the real-life journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein to ensure that every detail was correct. Those of us who are knowledgeable about Nixon and Watergate can watch the film and admire how well all the pieces fit together and all the facts are checked, while those less familiar will soak up all the information, admiring the work of the journalists and the screenwriter, who conveys all the twists, turns and dead ends.

    Being this factually accurate pays off in dramatic terms for two reasons. Firstly, it means that the film's political stance, if it has one, is not so blatantly obvious that it weighs the action down, as with Redford's Lions for Lambs. But more importantly, it demonstrates that the filmmakers have confidence in the material, believing the truth to be so extraordinary in its own right that to dress it up in Hollywood convention or other such artifice would do the audience a great disservice.

    Because the film is so relentlessly focussed on the story, the audience become like junior reporters following Woodward and Bernstein around, desperately trying to keep up and learn on the job. Like real-life journalists we are receiving information from a range of sources with varying degrees of reliability, to the point at which we almost feel the need to take notes. The dialogue is rattled off at a pace which makes even The Social Network look choreographed and considered.

    Unlike so many contemporary thrillers, All The President's Men manages to be so completely understated, keeping a lid on things and building tension throughout its running time. All of the big revelations come out through small tics in the dialogue; there are no great swathes of exposition to remind the audience what has happened so far. It takes us two hours to get to Deep Throat finally telling Woodward what he wants to hear in the car park; like Woodward, we have had to earn this information through patience and perseverance.

    The sense of tension created by the revelation of events and the pressure on the characters means that the film has no real need for action set-pieces or choreographed thrills. The closest things approaching action sequences are little pops of paranoia surrounding Woodward in the last hour - the disturbance in the car park, or the two journalists typing out their conversations for fear that they are being bugged. That's not to say that set-pieces in themselves are a bad thing, or a sign of dumbing-down in Hollywood movie-making. But All The President's Men simply doesn't need them - it does things the hard way, which turns out to be the smart way and the right way.

    It would be very easy to praise this film on purely nostalgic grounds, coming from a time when thrillers didn't have to end with explosions, and when there was 'proper' investigative journalism instead of commercially-minded, celebrity-saturated hearsay. But the makers of All The President's Men would not accept this rose-tinted view of journalism, and the film specifically warns not to take such days for granted. Long before Rupert Murdoch's empire-building, the conflict between money and the truth was present, and crucially the truth didn't always win hands down.

    There are several arguments in the film about the freedom of the press and its independence from the state and government. This conflict is present in the initial disagreements between Woodward and Bernstein which govern their different styles of reporting. Woodward is the newcomer who believes in facts above everything else; he types up his article, only for Bernstein, the seasoned hack who likes something with flair, to polish it behind his back.

    In one scene about halfway through, the two reporters are in a car arguing about the difference between fact and gut instinct. Woodward use the example of snow falling overnight, or a man stopping and asking for directions, to demonstrate that one cannot simply rely on logical presumptions to be sure that something happened. Bernstein's responses, while broadly in agreement, belie a disagreement between substance and style, graft and guesswork which would come to shape the industry.

    As a paean to 'proper' journalism, the film is a lot more subtle than something like Good Night and Good Luck, which used stock footage of Joseph McCarthy to hammer its point home in every scene. And unlike George Clooney's film, All The President's Men does a brilliant job of showing the fear and intimidation involved in the profession and practice of journalism. This is present throughout Woodward and Bernstein's work, from the persistent refusal of people to go on the record, to the pressure coming from their bosses who are staking the reputation of their paper on what could be an entirely spurious story. Woodward and Bernstein are forced to balance their own personal ambitions within the paper, the desire to protect people from exposure and ruin and the need to tell the truth - something which is no easy task.

    All The President's Men is also masterful at making the very act of writing exciting. As I mentioned in my review of Adaptation, it is very difficult to put the physical act of writing or typing on screen in a manner which is genuinely cinematic. But Alan J. Pakula achieves this in his directorial style, which is completely unfussy and marked by great attention to detail. So accomplished is his direction that you almost don't notice it, which might explain why he is so underrated as a filmmaker. The tension he builds makes one focus on all the random doodles on Woodward's notepad, and the typing scene is very well-paced.

    The performances in All The President's Men are all front-page material. Robert Redford is great, proving that he was more than just the pretty face from Butch Cassidy and The Sting and carrying himself with poise and conviction. Dustin Hoffman gives some of his best work as Carl Bernstein, resisting the temptation to 'over-method' as he did in Marathon Man the same year. And there is a terrific supporting role for Hal Holbrook as Deep Throat. Holbrook, best known for his appearance in The Fog, brings a murky edge to the character which not only conveys the danger of his situation, but leads you to believe that he is no good either.

    All The President's Men is a proper thinking-person's thriller with great direction, superb performances and an impeccable script. Though the worlds of both politics and journalism may have changed, the film's ideas and approach remain as fresh and bracing as they were 35 years ago. Whether as a paean to journalism or an argument for political accountability, a debate about the nature of truth or a thrill-a-minute drama, it succeeds on every conceivable level, resulting in a movie for the ages.
  • garyX
    February 2, 2011
    garyX
    Based on the investigation by two Washington Post reporters that uncovered the Watergate scandal and toppled Richard Nixon's presidency, All The President's Men is an insight into the events surrounding probably THE most important event concerning modern American democracy. Redfo... read morerd and Hoffman make an extremely likeable pairing and it's really interesting to see the nuts and bolts of the puzzle falling into place to reveal the larger picture. Because it's the true life story of the reporting process, the film is basically just a series of interviews and phone conversations and so can seem a little dry, especially considering its 2+ hour length but anyone interested in politics will be fascinated. Unfortunately, given the choice between a story involving the fundamental subversion of democracy by a corrupt government and the latest gossip on who "R-Patz" is screwing, I think we all know what would end up on the front page these days...
  • ajv2688
    January 3, 2011
    ajv2688
    A classic drama about the watergate scandal and the reporters who uncovered it. The movie has an excellent cast, and it's very interesting. I highly recommend this movie.
  • rjayhutchinson
    December 26, 2010
    rjayhutchinson
    This is a quality, compelling political thriller the likes of which we just don't see anymore. The fact that this is based on real, relatively recent history makes it all the more compelling. Anyone with an interest in American history or politics needs to see this film. This is ... read morea fantastic show.
  • ythelastman89
    August 24, 2010
    ythelastman89
    One of the greatest, if not the greatest, political suspense movie of all time. Strong directing, acting and visuals. Alan J. Pakula's style is preset here more than in any of his other movies, except for maybe Klute. The sense of not knowing the bigger picture is always somethin... read moreg in the back of the viewers mind, creating such a great unsettling tone. Both Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman turn in some of their best performances. When a timely movie can stand the test of time, that is when you know it's powerful.
  • deano
    June 6, 2010
    deano
    This atmospheric thriller is familiar to 1993's The Pelican Brief, but this based on a true story of two Washington Post journalists is unsurprisingly, who cracked the 1972 Watergate conspiracy case and brought down the president.
    The film is never overly melodramatic, bu... read moret is always tense, and although it has pair of heroes, we're left in no doubt of their selfish motivations as they work potential witnesses any way they can in their bid to nail the truth. The moody shot of Washington evoke an arrogant, oppressive city.
    Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman are believable as reporters and the movie is supported by some of the finest character actors about at the time. Hal Holbrook and Jason Robards jockey for the third spot honors with Holbrook probably edging it as the mysterious Deep Throat. He steals the scenes in the garage.
  • webalina
    March 4, 2010
    webalina
    Two reporters for a big city newspaper discover a conspiracy in the U.S. government that involves the CIA, the FBI and the Justice Department -- even up to the Oval Office. Sounds like a great premise for a movie, doesn't it? Damn right it does. And it's even better because it's ... read moreTRUE. This film is based on the book of the same name by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, both newbie reporters at the Washington Post, who investigated a break-in at the Democratic National HQ that eventually brought down men all the way up the ladder, culminating in the resignation of President Nixon. I was just a kid when all this took place (early 70s), so I'm only vaguely aware of the details. It was interesting for me to learn who did what when, where and to whom. And my research librarian background savored every morsel of the investigative process.

    This film is as gripping and nerve-racking as any spy novel or suspense thriller. And to know that it really happened just adds to the thrill. It's nearly 2-1/2 hours and I never looked away from the screen for the first hour and a half. Excellent performances by Robert Redford (Woodward WISHES he looked that good!) and Dustin Hoffman in the Woodward and Bernstein roles, and a class act of support, with Jason Robards Jr,, Jane Alexander, and as "Deep Throat", informant who met with Bob Woodward and broke the story open, Hal Holbrook. A humdinger of a film with a story so outrageous that no one would believe if it wasn't documented in history books.
  • TomBowler
    November 8, 2009
    TomBowler
    This movie is difficult. You have to really push yourself to actually watch the whole way through, or you are really into the whole 'suspense without anything happening' style. It is a really difficult film to watch without sleeping at least once. But despite that, there is a rea... read moreson that it is critically acclaimed all around the globe, and that's because it is so perfectly paced the whole way through. Watching it in today's context is difficult. Surrounded by the cheap thrills of crappy action films and childish comedies, it is difficult to appreciate the incredible direction and meaty content matter. But for those of you who are serious about it, you will find a lot to love here. Dustin Hoffman is brilliant, as per the norm, as the gutsy and slightly 'Rain Man' Carl Bernstein and Robert Redford is is great as the idealistic though slightly self-centered Robert Woodward. The fact that this is based on a true story is just one of the reasons that this film works so well. It's all very well imagining an event like this, but for the generation who lived through it and remember it, this becomes much more than the gripping thriller which it is in its own right, it becomes a journey into their own past, which is more convincing than any storyteller. The tense moments which abound are all amazing, shot and paced so delicately and precisely that you can't help to fell frightened. Paying attention to the age old rule of that which you can't see is scarier, Pakula manages to have you on your toes without actually doing anything. The caution that is applied to the circumstances and the cleverness of the script also helps to make this film as good as it is. Great movie.

    Defining Scene:
    It's gotta be the amazing ending with Dustin Hoffman counting slowly to ten down the phone line. That moment of realisation sends tingles down the spine.
  • fb619846742
    October 16, 2009
    fb619846742
    A fantastic and riveting look into the Watergate Scandal and how it was broken by two fearless, brave journalists who knew they were on the verge of breaking something big. The performances are all outstanding, and this movie does an incredible job showing every facet of the jour... read morenalism business and how meetings and papers are orchestrated. If you're interested in how newspapers work or how reporters are when they find a story they're passionate about, look no further than this fine film.
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