Review of All the President's Men

Here is a movie that truly strives for realism. In the dialogue, characters make slip-ups and have to correct themselves. Dramatic camera angles are not used, but rather shots that linger on a single character's face for minutes on end. There is no music for the first 25 minutes of the movie. It's an artistic technique that sets this movie apart and also fills it with tension.



From almost the first scenes, I was sucked into the plot. It is intensely thrilling. And here's the interesting part: nobody dies. Nobody fires any guns. How is that possible in a political thriller? It's all in the tone. Richard Nixon, the film's adversary, is only ever seen on TV. Yet, his menacing presence is felt throughout the entire film. It is not long before Woodward and Bernstien begin to feel their actions shadowed by mysterious adversaries that track their movement and hush witnesses. For most of the movie, the danger is implied.

The ending of this movie is very interesting (no real spoilers ahead, if you know the history). It ends on a down-note, with our heroes embarassed and frightened. They are at the height of the danger to their lives. Nixon has clearly won this battle. They are told they have to persevere to do this thing right and work hard by their boss. The rest of history is then told without dramatic action. It's an ending that is gutsy, if nothing else. Knowing the history, one would expect the film to end with Nixon resigning and the reporters basking in their victory. It is different and refreshing to have the dramatic action end with the reporters losing. Some might find it anticlimactic, but not I.

See this movie. Even if you have no interest in the Watergate cover-up or politics, you will enjoy it.
4 1/2 CRP Directors out of 5