Review: All the President's Men

It all started with a burglary in 1973, and it ended up being one of the most controversial events of the 20th Century. That event was Watergate. A nation was left forever changed due to the events of that scandal. But what were the series of events that lead up to this toppling of a government?

All [or at least some] of the answers to that question are answered in the 1976 film, All the President’s Men.

Directed by Alan J. Pakula (Sophie’s Choice, The Pelican Brief), The film follows the tale of two journalists from the Washington Post, Bob Woodward, played by Robert Redford (The Sting, The Natural) and Carl Bernstein, played by Dustin Hoffman (The Graduate, Rain Man), who uncover a conspiracy which revealed the attempted sabotage of the political opponents of then president, Richard Nixon.

Based on actual events, the film does follow the timeline of Woodward and Bernstein’s attempts to answer the question of what was happening at Watergate, and how far up did all of this go.

The events of the film start from the initial Watergate break-in, all the way to the revelation of Nixon’s administration, and their corruption, which eventually leads to Nixon himself.

Aided by a mysterious informant, code-named: Deep Throat, played by Hal Holbrook (Fletch Lives, Wall Street), they’re told to “Follow the money,” and investigate what really was going on at the White House.

Having been filmed almost 35 years ago, the quality of the cinematography doesn’t really stand up by today’s standards, but the story, and its relevance is still significant.

Robert Redford is probably at his best in the film, cementing him as one of that generation’s greatest actors. The cast is superb, specifically Jason Robards, who won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Washington Post Editor Ben Bradlee.

The film is very dated, even after restoration/mastering to DVD, however it is a good film to watch, especially if you’re interested in journalism, or investigative reporting. You can probably purchase a copy for less than $10 most anywhere, or rent it at Blockbuster or your local video store.

I do recommend that you check it out at some time, however you do have to remain objective while watching it, as the fact that it’s very dated may dissuade you from actually enjoying it.

I give All the President’s Men 6 out of 10.