The Post (2017)

The Post had a lot going for it. One of the greatest ever directors Steven Spielberg at the helm, a star-studded cast based around a series of events that naturally lends itself to a cinematic retelling. And while there’s nothing specifically wrong about The Post, I couldn’t help but find this to be one of the more workmanlike Spielberg efforts, not helped by playing the events too safe, focusing on the ‘heroics’ of the wrong people and struggling with it’s packing.

On paper, the main draw of the film and what makes it with a watch is the abundance of onscreen talent, all of whom, performed to the top of their ability, none more so than the stars of the piece Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep, both give in their all and it’s easy to see why they were reward with Oscar nominations for their efforts, though it did help that both were afforded the most well-rounded characters. Props should also go to Bob Odenkirk for giving one of the more nuanced contributions of the supporting cast, while Carrie Coon and Matthew Rhys are also memorable.

As you would expect from a Spielberg production, The Post, is visually well-made. the grit, slickness and style are evocative of movies made in the decade where the event depicted takes place, while the score is a perfect companion, it’s just a shame that all the movie’s good points are let down by an instead pace and the decision to focus not on the person who came across the information or the journalists that broke the story first, but instead, one the actions of those at The Washington Post felt strange given that the risks for them were greater, though this might be more due to the desire to show the strength of a female editor in a male-dominated field, which isn’t something I’m averse to seeing, after all, it meant we could experience more Streep magic. I just found it to be a more forgettable experience than it could have been.