Review of All the President's Men (1976) by Joedeckard — 07 Apr 2019

Although a slow-burn, Alan J Pakula's gripping exploration into the Watergate scandal as seen through the eyes of two journalists Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward played by Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford.

Every character from Ben Bradley (Jason Robards we love you) and Hal Holbrook (does that guy ever put a foot wrong)as Deep Throat to bookkeeper Jane Alexander is drawn with nuance and played with subtlety as the enormity of the exercise closes around them.

Pakula shoots fabulous wide shots of Government buildings that dwarf the players, accentuating their ant-like existance within the towers of Babel they hope to pull down. The library scene where a shaky camera moves up into the ceiling slowly reveals the two journalists caught in the spider's web of deceit which they must unravel before the spider gets to them first.

And still there is time for fun. Like when Hoffman lights up a cigarette in the elevator, as the doors close on them Redford asks "Is there anywhere you don't smoke?" A brilliant and detailed exploration of what now seem like innocent times and a nostalgic love story of journalism, that once proud and dignified profession.