January
15
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THE POST (12A)
THE POST (12A)
Run time: 115 Mins
Director: Steven Spielberg
Cast: Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, Alison Brie, Bob Odenkirk, Bradley Whitford, Bruce Greenwood, Carrie Coon, David Cross, Michael Stuhlbarg, Sarah Paulson,Tracy Letts
Synopsis: Katharine Graham is the first female publisher of a major American newspaper — The Washington Post. With help from editor Ben Bradlee, Graham races to catch up with The New York Times to expose a massive cover-up of government secrets that spans three decades and four U.S. presidents. Together, they must overcome their differences as they risk their careers — and very freedom — to help bring long-buried truths to light.
URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whFAsePy-w8
Influential film-maker Steven Spielberg [The BFG (2016), Bridge of Spies (2015), Lincoln (2012)] directs Meryl Streep (as Katherine Graham) and Tom Hanks (as Ben Bradlee) in The Post, a timely drama about press freedom, equality and an unlikely partnership. This is when The Washington Post’s first female publisher of a major American newspaper and a legendary editor unite in a race to catch up with The New York Times to expose a massive cover-up of government secrets that has spanned three decades and four U.S. Presidents, known as The Pentagon Papers.
In 1971 former government military analyst Daniel Ellsberg (Matthew Rhys) surreptitiously photocopies classified reports about the ongoing Vietnam War. These detail the truth about clandestine US activities and how the war is going badly, proving to be political dynamite when leaked to The New York Times
Meryl Streep is excellent as the Washington D.C. newspaper heiress Katharine Graham, who is conflicted over her paper’s stock exchange position and thoughts of losing control of the family business.
She had taken over the paper after the suicide of her husband, but lacked confidence in her ability as a leader, feeling frequently countermanded by more assertive male advisors or employees like Bradlee (Hanks). Now she is confronted by a crisis and must find the courage to publish, despite a personal friendship with Secretary of State McNamara (Bruce Greenwood) and political and social pressure from all sides.
With a strong talented ensemble cast The Post is a well-crafted film which underlines the importance of a free press in a gripping, entertaining and enjoyable manner.
Images courtesy of ENTERTAINMENT ONE UK
