The Post: "To Make This Decision, To Risk Her Fortune And The Company That's Been Her Entire Life, Well I Think That's Brave"

Director: Steven Spielberg
Writer:     Liz Hannah
                Josh Singer
Starring: Meryl Streep
                Tom Hanks
                Sarah Paulson
                Bob Odenkirk
                Alison Brie
                Jesse Plemons
                David Cross
                Jessie Mueller
Rating:    *****

Release Date: Out Now 

Streep, Hanks and Spielberg. These three names, three of the most successful, talented and influential in Hollywood; and this is the first time they’re working together. What soon becomes apparent about what is most important about the film that they’ve made is how timely and important it is in today’s climate. It is shocking to see how little we have come since this film was set in the 1970s; but also, how right here and right now, change is finally coming, and women like Katharine Graham, who Streep portrays, is why we are able to move forward!

Tom Hanks & Meryl Streep

Set in early 1970’s, The Post is the story of the journalists at The Washington Post and their attempts to release the Pentagon Papers, the famous documents that told undisclosed information about the American governments involvement with The Vietnam War. It is a fast paced, thrilling and emotive story that touches on many different subjects. Justice, sexism, power and integrity are just some of the things the film looks at, and it is a truly unbelievable watch.

Streep is Katharine Graham, the first ever female publisher of a major American newspaper. From the offset it is clear that in this male dominated industry, she is not being taken as seriously as her colleagues, and instead being overlooked and often ignored. She never lets this slow her down, and when she finds that The New York Times are going to run the Pentagon Papers, she races against them to do it first. Streep is a marvel in this role, and her strength and determination shine through, whilst moments of subtle doubt trickle in at poignant moments. Meryl Streep once again uses her unbelievable talent to bring to life this unflinching historical figure who is gravely under represented and almost never heard of. It is women like Graham that deserve recognition, and Streep has done everything in her power to do this.

In times like this, it is good to be reminded that woman have long struggled, but also long overcome those obstacles and people that have held them back. Being told no was never going to work for Graham, and she risked her career and life for that paper and her job. Having inherited the paper after her husband killed himself, it would’ve been easy for her to feel like she wasn’t deserving of that job, but instead she grabbed it by the figurative balls and owned it. Streep was the perfect person to tell this story, and it is truly up there with some of her best performances.

Sarah Paulson

Supporting Streep is Tom Hanks as Ben Bradlee, the executive edition of The Washington Post. He is as charming and warm as Hanks ever is, but also he is strong willed and extremely supportive of everything Graham stands for. He knows full well the risk they are taking, but is one of the few men to stand by her decisions. Hanks shows the battle he has with himself beautifully, and thanks to terrific chemistry with Streep, they together depict a genuine support system for one another, and their journey together drives the movie and its emotional punch right through. Hanks, also, gives one of his finest performances and had me marvelling at his immense talent.

The supporting cast, including Sarah Paulson, Jessie Mueller, David Cross and Alison Brie; bring a brilliantly balanced dynamic of doubters and supporters, that help elevate the importance of what Graham and Bradlee are doing. The entire ensemble work in harmony to tell this worryingly true-to-today story superbly.

Steven Spielberg has put in the amazing work to show these crucial days in American History as simply as possible. He makes it possible for us to understand the decisions that were made, were in fact very difficult to go ahead with present in that moment. This helps to build the tension, all while the pieces fall in to place and we see how everything came to be. If any film was going to join the forces of Streep, Hanks and Spielberg, The Post is undoubtedly the best film to that, and I feel honoured and lucky that I got to see it. 

 The Post - Trailer