Review of The Post (2017) by Frame R — 28 Mar 2018

The movie your grandpa went to see and came home complaining about the liberal media.

THE POST.

You could tell that it isn't Spielberg's first time at the rodeo, the fellow has been around for a while and he has fine-tuned to perfection what his directorial style entails. He is the father of modern American standardized storytelling and with this film he continues to prove he still has it (just to wipe out some shadow of a doubt that we could have been left with after the BFG). His camera is thoughtful, not so much provoking and it's precise and stable, not relentless like Fincher's. I am especially fond of the mastery behind such shots as the ones which float through the room and approach the characters and the office with curiosity and a watchful amount of stress, putting you in a position of an omnipresent spectator who wants to know progressively more. There is no jitter in his camera, it moves fluidly in its various tracking and continuous shots. That is, as usual, paired with prodigious framing and a golden hand when it comes to shaping performances. Tom Hanks is consistent as usual and the incomparable 21-nominations-Streep, hands down my favourite actor working today, succeeds on embodying a public figure and creating a visible conflict between her outer shell/ what it's expected from her and her inner turmoil. There's a scene where she sees herself muted by her male co-workers which is masterfully executed and it's fascinating how Streep can display the evolution between that point in her character and the final moments of the film (it's one of things that makes it one of the most feminist of the year, which only seems appropriate). Not only that, the sturdy script which includes an important story whose theme of freedom of press vs personal interest could not be more relevant as it is now; and the criminally underrated script works together to create a piece of work that isn't extraordinary but it's damn good enough. Contrary to what the Oscars are contractually obligated to do, I would never consider The Post as one of the 9 best movies of the year, as it's slightly far from that. Movies that could have taken its spot include the likes of Okja, Blade Runner 2049, War for the Planet of the Apes and specially Coco. However, it is a film that brings together three of the most Academy-friendly people and it entails a combination of factors that are sure to make a splash in the award circuit. Maybe it doesn't have the thrill of Munich or Bridge of Spies' finesse, but it should be watched, if not for Mr. Spielberg's work, for the important piece of world history that puts on screen.