“All The President’s Men” should be required viewing for journalists. It pays tribute to the persistence and intelligence that makes great reporters invaluable assets to the world. The impeccable filmmaking and excellent performances make this movie a classic that still resonates today.
This film tells the true story of Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, two reporters for The Washington Post. Woodward reports on a story about a minor burglary at the Watergate Complex, and becomes suspicious about ties between the burglars and the CIA. Woodward and Bernstein dig deeper and discover links between key members of the Nixon administration and illegal activities.
My favorite thing about this movie is how realistic it feels. The filmmakers capture the relentless nature of journalism without glamorizing it. For example, one sequence consists of Woodward making phone calls to people about a man named Howard Hunt. There’s no music or fast cuts to make it feel “exciting.” Instead, we see Woodward talk and close-ups of his notes.
This sequence captures the drudgery of failed leads, but the slow pacing draws you into Woodward’s head space. It makes the revelation that Hunt worked for the CIA stand out more because of all the less important information we just heard.
The filmmaking is a lot like good journalism. It uses medium shots and close-ups to guide the audience through the complex workings of the Watergate Scandal. Every shot has a purpose, such as a fast tracking shot as Woodward and Bernstein run to tell their publisher some good news. That simple camera movement makes you feel the thrill they feel in their work.
The performances in this film are great, primarily because they make you feel like these people could work on a newspaper. Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman make a great team as Woodward and Bernstein, respectively. Jack Warden and Martin Balsam capture the great mixture of humor and decisiveness that so many editors have.
Hal Holbrook gives one of my favorite performances in this film as a high-level source code-named Deep Throat. His real identity was so secret that it was not revealed until 2005 as W. Mark Felt, the deputy director of the FBI at the time. Holbrook’s face is mostly covered in shadows, but what you can see of his facial expressions speaks volumes. His very presence infuses the film with a greater sense of menace.
My favorite scene in “All The President’s Men” is the one that I hope is the most prophetic. It is when Nixon gets renominated at the Republican National Convention. We see it on a television that dominates the foreground, as Woodward and Bernstein diligently type in the background. Their words will bring down a dishonest Republican presidential candidate. Journalists of today: take note.
jpastern@indiana.edu | @jessepasternack
