The Post Is A Slow-Burning Tale Filled With Brilliant Performances

The Post is a slow-burning tale filled with brilliant performances and even better cinematography. Based on true events, The Post details the events surrounding the release of The Pentagon Papers and the battle between the government and freedom of press.

Director, Steven Spielberg managed to take an event leading up tp to one of the biggest scandals in United States history (Watergate) and make it almost as intense as the scandal itself. His film showcases the tension brewing between the press and the government by intertwining fiction with reality. Actual news pieces and audio from the time are woven in the story in a way that makes the audience feel as though they are actually living and experiencing the scandal.

The heart of the film though lies with the acting. Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks play the film’s leads, Kay Graham and Ben Bradlee. Hanks as Bradlee, the executive editor of The Washington Post, is riveting and most definitely Oscar worthy. Streep’s portrayal of Graham, the owner of the paper, is a sight to see. She managed to show the conflict Graham dealt with of being a woman in a position of power who constantly had to fight for any gain in an industry very much controlled by men. It comes almost naturally to the actress through her grace and determination.

The two are surrounded by an even better ensemble, with actors such as Bob Odenkirk, Bradley Whitford, Carrie Coon, and Matthew Rhys, bringing to life characters that move the film along. Rhys’ portrayal of Daniel Ellsberg, the leaker of the Pentagon Papers, is one of the best performances in the film. Sarah Paulson, who plays Ben Rradlee’s wife, is greatly underused.

The Post is a film that celebrates a time when the newspaper fought for their freedom to write about the government in an open and transparent way. The film will leave audiences wondering if things have really changed over the years.

Grade: B+