“The Post”…Why Now?

Forty-Six Years and Five Months Ago Today the Washington Post Began Publishing the Pentagon Papers. What Compelled Steven Spielberg to Tell The Story Now?

Steven Spielberg’s latest film, “The Post” tells an interesting, but well-worn historical tale. It doesn’t dig new dirt, plow new ground, or tell us anything those of us old enough to remember didn’t already know.

It simply allows us to see that important event through the eyes of the people involved, many of whom, after forty-seven years are dead and forgotten.

No one’s going to say Steven Spielberg can’t make movies. He grabs us with an action hook on the opening, followed by the usual, near perfect, Spielbergian blocking and pacing, filming and editing, along with the same near perfect performances we’re used to from Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks…

Streep and Hanks as Kay Graham and Ben Bradlee

…and others. Bruce Greenwood does a great Bob McNamara, and you’ll do a double take at Bob Odenkirk as Ben Bagdikian, a newsman with a conscience. (Yes, Bob Odenkirk as a man with a conscience — a breakout role for him.)