The Reel Review
In 1971, Katharine Graham and Ben Bradlee, the publisher and the editor of The Washington Post, bravely risked imprisonment and the newspaper’s ruin by printing the Pentagon Papers, a controversial, top secret study of the Vietnam War that revealed the US government had systematically lied to the American public about how poorly it was doing in the war as it sent more troops into battle.
Not only is the story’s message, about the importance of a free press, particularly timely in our current political environment, but Steven Spielberg makes admittedly dry subject matter surprisingly riveting, on par with 1976’s iconic All The President’s Men. The story is intense, aided by an inspiring score and relatable, top notch performances by Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks, reminding us that the press functions to serve the governed, NOT those who govern.
Video & Photo
