The Post

Spielberg's new drama about the controversial publication of the Pentagon Papers by the Washington Post and New York Times is a well-made and entertaining, albeit not perfect, film. Tom Hanks gives a thorough and enjoyable performance as Ben Bradlee, but it is Meryl Streep who truly stands out in the cast here through her role as Kay Graham. Bob Odenkirk's supporting role is also noteworthy in a very positive sense.

The film is thoroughly gripping, although it sometimes feels paced slightly clumsily through omissions of details that could have been better to include as Spielberg presents the audience with the turbulent politics of the Vietnam era that lead to the intense legal and ideological controversies surrounding the Pentagon Papers. Additionally, a rushed--albeit still very enjoyable--third act makes the viewer feel that the film's running time is a bit too short. The film is an enjoyable watch in a way that other journalism films like "All The President's Men" and "Spotlight"--while better films overall for sure--are not, but its tone is handled well throughout. If Spielberg's dramas have taught me one thing, it's that he clearly knows how to let a specific tone manifest itself throughout the course of a narrative and do that well. The film contains a few moments that feel a bit 'meh' (a very clichéd rather than powerful discussion of the importance of freedom of the press in the second half is one.) While it has neither the high emotional stakes and dramatic tension of "Bridge of Spies" or the clockwork precision of "Lincoln," it is still a very well-acted and entertaining film that I do recommend. 7/10

I enjoyed this movie. It must be kept in mind this is a movie, a drama and not a documentary. As such, this is a good movie. The pace is good and we follow the events and decisions that had to be made. Meryl Streep shows why she wins Oscars, the self-doubt and hesitation that she portrays was a masterful performance. Tom Hanks' character was serviceable and pretty one note, and the only nice character turn was near the end after speaking to his wife about the heroics of Streep's character.

A number of people said the movie was too preachy and was worried about that before seeing the movie. I didn't find that at all after watching the movie. Yes, verses a documentary, this movie did have a theme and message, but I knew what this movie was about freedom of the press before going to see it. I grew up in that time period, so I knew the outcome also.

In 1971, The New York Times has access to classified documents about the Vietnam War. However, the government uses the justice department to stop the distribution of newspapers claiming violation of the national security laws. Immediately after, the Washington Post has access to similar documents but they decide to face the government and publish the newspapers against the will of their lawyers and investors.

"The Post" is a film directed by Steven Spielberg with the battle between the press and Nixon´s government in 1971. The performances of Meryl Streep and Tom Hank are top-notch as usual and the dramatization of the situation is suspenseful. The truth about the Vietnam War is probably painful for the American people that lost their sons to hypocrite governments. However the right of free press without financial interest from the government seems to be utopic at least in the present days. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "The Post: A Guerra Secreta" ("The Post: The Secret War")

Print media may be dead, but the crusader journalist movie is alive and well. "The Post" is just as much a paean to the newspaper's heyday as it is a warning against corrupt government, complete with top-shelf cast. Given the Washington Post's lasting legacy (to this day), you can easily tell that the Pentagon Papers weren't the certain doom they seemed to spell out for the paper. Yet Spielberg jumps right into the material, creating excitement even in mundane printing press scenes. This is a stirring tale, masterfully directed and timelier than ever. Sure, it's probably Oscar-bait, but you can't argue with that level of quality.

8/10

If you lived through Vietnam and have read and seen the material in the aftermath (including Ken Burns' incredible documentary), there seems little doubt that our leaders were at the center of the deaths of thousands of our dear sons and daughters. From Truman to Eisenhower to Kennedy/Johnson to Nixon, image was what it was all about. The tapes and phone conversations prove this. So when Daniel Ellsberg delivered those damning documents to the New York Times, he brought down evil. Nixon had the world by the butt and overreached. So what about this movie. I have to agree that it wasn't as good as I thought it was going to be. Despite portrayals by real troopers and a masterful performance by Streep, it had a kind of yawn factor. Somehow, there seemed little suspense. Of course, we knew the story, but it never picked up much steam. It needed fine tuning. An interesting continuing commentary in IMDB is the use of a movie forum to perpetuate a soapbox. But to give this film a one or two because it shows the parallels of that time with the one we are living in, is counter to the whole point of reviewing. Anyway, I thought it was a reasonably thoughtful portrayal of a time when government got bigger than it should have.