VHS - All the President's Men

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All the President's Men

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- Review: All the President's Men
The movie is a shining example of how "Freedom of the Press" is sometimes our only defense against big government. At the time of the "Watergate Trials", I was in my early twenties but did not truly appreciate the events of this period. The movie will take you through this incredible period and will show how perserverence, hard work and just a bit of luck destroyed a presidency. Congratulations to the Washington Post for its gutsy pursuit of justice! Loved this movie!!!!

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- Lots of great DVD Extras!
The movie is great and there is a really smart commentary option by Robert Redford. There are also many great extras.

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- Thirty years later, it's still great --- and still relevant
Movies that are this topical often lose their impact with time, but "All the President's Men" continues to pack a real punch, even after all of these years. Sadly, part of this due to the fact that the abuses of executive power remain all too relevant in our nation, but it is also due in large part to excellent pacing & editing. Simply put, it is a wonderfully crafted film.

Part of the film's greatness is that it works on multiple levels. It is the story of the arrogance of power, but it is also the tale of how arrogance can make people sloppy. It also demonstrates how a couple of relative unknowns on what was then a relatively regional newspaper can, with perserverence, bring down what appeared to be an unassailable administration. Sometimes the little guy really can make a difference. It also captures effectively what a huge risk the principals at the Washington Post were taking by pursuing this story. Had Woodward & Bernstein been unable to connect the dots, their careers, along with the careers of Ben Bradlee et al, would effectively have been finished then & there. This story serves as a reminder for those who might be tempted to take the easy way out & not ask the hard questions.

For my wife & I --- both of us veteran researchers --- this movie also serves as a glance into the past when the Internet was not the medium by which people gleaned information. For those of you who have never known life before the Internet Age, let me point out that Woodward & Bernstein, without the benefit of computers, cell phones, or any other spiffy gadgets, were able to do the research that exposed one of the major coverups of their time. Ironically, privacy restrictions which we take for granted (getting information from the librarian, for example) also didn't exist as barriers for reporters trying to scrounge up some juicy tidbit.

Even if this were a work of fiction, it would still make for gripping viewing. One cannot underestimate the impact this scandal had on the nation, and it would have been a shame if this movie had been bungled in production. Fortunately, it is a classic in every respect.

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- The Power of Investigative Journalism
For those of us who weren't old enough to remember Watergate, this is an ideal way to learn about how it unfolded and what its implications were (are) for our political system. One gains an appreciation for the perseverance and doggedness of "Washington Post" reporters Woodward and Bernstein as they pieced together the scandal that brought down President Nixon.

Redford and Hoffman's acting is excellent, pace is good.

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- Great, simply great

That's what a political thriller should be - suspenseful, gripping, dynamic, keeping a viewer riveted to the screen for all 138 minutes of its duration even though we know the story very well - its beginning and its inevitable conclusion. That's a great, inspired movie-making from everyone involved. Robert Redford who also produced the film bought the screen rights to Bob Woodward (whom he played) and Carl Bernstein's (Dustin Hoffman) book on the exposure of Watergate conspiracy for $225, 000. Oscar winning screenwriter William Goldman wrote a great screenplay and persuaded Hoffman to play Bernstein. Special mention should go to Alan Pakula whose quiet, masterful and intelligent directing delivered the suspense that the story demands. "All The President's Men" is Pakula's final chapter in what is known as "paranoia trilogy" that also includes "Klute" (1971) and "The Parallax View" (1974). These three films make Pakula one of the most interesting American directors of the 70s.

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