THE POST (2017)
 |
| Critic - No.146 |
Casts: Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks
Language: English
Genre: Biography / Drama / History
SYNOPSIS:
A cover-up that spanned four U.S. Presidents pushed the country's first female newspaper publisher (Meryl Streep) and a hard-driving editor (Tom Hanks) to join an unprecedented battle between the press and the government.
REVIEW:
Crafted around the few anxious weeks in 1971, it revisits The Washington Post’s decision to publish portions of the Pentagon Papers, an immense classified report that recorded America’s involvement in Southeast Asia from World War II to 1968. In the hands of Spielberg, the story shapes into an engaging thriller elevated by empowering performances by Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks.
Streep as Katherine Kay Graham grabs out attention progressively till the final moments where we get to see the full strength of the iron lady. She plays the character with wit, showing us just how cleverly Graham out beat all the chauvinistic bankers and politicians who dismiss her on the basis of her gender.
Meanwhile Hanks portrays the grumpy, sarcastic yet idealistic editor who just loves his job and the challenges it encompasses. As the stacks are raised, he utters, “My God, the fun!” A certain Oscar worthy performance for me.
Spielberg and his cinematographer Janusz Kamiński have worked well to make the newspaper business seem cinematic. The contrasting lighting and the common close ups of typewriter, large printers and bundles of newspaper, brings us closer to the world of journalism. Kamiński also accentuates the tension with his strategic use of zooms, particularly at the shot where Graham takes her decision. John Williams background score is just fitting.
Written by Liz Hannah and Josh Singer, the film balances the main plot as well as gives a slight essential peek at their private lives that adds on to our understanding about the character’s inner struggles. It makes us think a lot about free press and gender orientation that even is relevant in today’s society. But the film does get stagnant at a few places and feels longer than it should be.
All these positives really make us look pass a few historical accuracies or the occasional lags the screenplay has but ‘The Post’ boasts with a genuine intent that is captured by one of our beloved contemporary master film makers, Steven Spielberg.
Brisk, funny and emotionally intense, ‘The Post’ is a gripping depiction of free press that is enhanced by effortlessly fluent performances by Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep.
CELLULOID METER- 3.5/5:
Comments
Post a Comment