The Post - Better late than never
There will always be issues regarding stories based on historical facts and/or events, no matter how well told. The more details from the past there are, the more difficult the task. That of course if you decide not to do just a re-enactment for a documentary perhaps. There’s always a threat of over glorifying the main characters because they’re the good guys. So there is a forced perspective. Now. If they’d made the film from a different perspective, say, Robert McNamara, there would be completely dissimilar feel to it. However, leaving that aside, no matter the historical accuracy, the story itself was well told. Though the beginning seemed to lag a bit, it gained and kept the momentum later on.
Acting was, for the most part, in check with the reality, though perhaps not necessarily realistic per se. Not to say the acting was bad or even mediocre. No. The team, most all decorated veterans, are professionals in the field, to say the least. There are some moments of greatness, but those are maybe too fleeting, because though the situation is tense, it’s still somewhat mundane considering the job of being in the news business. The main problem with the characters seem to be that they’re all somewhat chameleons and everyone is a little bit of everything – a bit of a common person, a bit of a celebrity, a working person, an idealist etc. And they shift within those parameters and therefore become bit of a blur so that even though they’re the good guys, you still perhaps don’t quite root for them as one should. There are still a few somewhat more emotional scenes which come out thanks to the prowess of the cast.
Visually there’s very little to complain about. The setting and costumes and props are all authentic. Colour grading is very well done and the overall texture of the film helps to get into the feel of the period. The musical score supports the scenes and adds to the atmosphere and tension. It’s not over done though isn’t necessarily to my liking in the sense of style.
Spielberg’s done great job, but it ain’t ‘Schindler’s List’. Then again you can’t really compare these two in that sense. You watch it and will go on with the ride and most likely will enjoy it and perhaps even learn a thing or two, but I do not see this film as one that will be brought out as a great example for the generations to come. As a film I mean. What concerns history, we are damn quick to forget. It’s even somewhat ironic that ‘The Post’ and ‘12 Strong’ are both in the cinemas right now.
S
2018