All the President's Men

All the President’s Men
Directed by Alan J. Pakula
Starring Dustin Hoffman, Robert Redford

On the face of it, a story about two journalists working for the Washington Post may seem somewhat dull. However, a story about the discovery of one of America’s biggest political scandals makes for a thrilling and insightful look into the workings of the journalists who uncovered the truth.

The story of Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein is told to perfection by All the President’s Men and displays the cover up of President Nixon to its full extent. Although the film is centred around the Watergate scandal, it also shows the inner workings of American newspapers in the 1970’s. Cramped office floors, heavily debated editorial meetings and the intense pursuit of leads all allow the story to come to life.

Throughout, the theme of government cover up is apparent, matched by the lack of belief in the story’s credibility by the Washington Post editors. The appearance of Deep Throat, an unnamed source at the time, later revealed to be FBI Associate Director Mark Felt, marked speculation over his identity for decades to come and gave life to one of the most famous anonymous sources in American history.

The film was a success in 1976, landing fourth spot on the highest grossing films of that year behind Rocky, To Fly! and A Star is Born. It also won four Oscars, including Best Supporting Actor, and was nominated for a further four awards.

Take away the factual element of the story and you have a stand-alone detective film that leaves the audience attempting to uncover the truth as they watch. Although classed as a political thriller, it makes a case for a whole new genre based on the workings of a journalist. Whether you know the story of Watergate or not, it’s a must watch.