"The Post" is a movie directed by Steven Spielberg--need I say more?-- and was released January 12th of 2018. It is by far the best movie I have ever seen, and I'm here to convince you to go watch it.
1. It is relevant af
You cannot beat the relevancy of a movie that discusses journalism and freedom of the press in relation to the White House. Doesn't matter what your political leanings are or if you hate this movie, is it indisputably relevant.
2. Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep plays Katharine Graham, the publisher of the Washington Post for two decades, and does it so convincingly that I'm pretty sure she could run a newspaper if she wanted to. Katharine Graham is one of the only females in journalism, and throughout the movie, her character development into a strong-willed woman is beautiful to watch.
3. Tom Hanks
I'm a big fan of "Forrest Gump", but his role takes the cake too. Who doesn't like Tom Hanks?
4. The competition between the NYTimes and the Washington Post is awesome
At one point the publishers of both papers are having brunch and the New York Times publisher pulls out a copy of his own newspaper and hands it to the other because he wanted to ensure she had "seen the news"
5. It shows how relationships between journalists and the president have evolved
Before the days of Watergate, journalists and publishers not only mingled with presidents and their families, but were often their friends. That kind of relationship probably contributed to the general lack of harshness concerning the White House before the era during which this movie takes place.
6. Feminism
Like I said, Meryl Streep's character is shown getting talked over at her own board meetings and being told what to do with her own company. Even when she has the exact calculations for an issue already presented, a man sits there and calculates it. By the end of the movie she is saying things like "I was speaking" when someone cuts her off. Despite her being one of the only women in journalism, she shows that she can do just as well.
7. It's directed by Steven Spielberg
In case you're a newborn and don't know who that is, he directed or produced the following movies: "Jaws", "Jurassic Park", "E.T.", "Saving Private Ryan", "Catch Me If You Can", "The Goonies", "Men in Black', "Men in Black II", and "Men in Black III". And also all the other great movies you're thinking of as well.
8. It's aesthetically pleasing
There's a lot of scenes that show the way newspapers used to be printed in the good old days (no anachronisms in this movie!) and it is really nice to look at.
9. Return to #1. It's relevant.
I'm serious. Has there ever been a more perfect time to watch a movie wherein the President of the United States doesn't like the journalism to the extent that the Attorney General sends a cease and desist letter to the New York Times? Or a more perfect time to watch a movie concerning the publication of war-related material out of national security concerns--coupled with the right for public knowledge? Has the idea of public privacy and national security ever been as necessarily intertwined as it is right now? Maybe. The era shown in this movie is a near tie. Which is why you NEED to watch it.
