Presidential knowledge of political interference. Shady business practice. Hard-nosed journalists trying to get the truth out, despite being labeled as fake news. This may sound as if it is coming from the political climate of today. In reality, it is the film “All the President’s Men,” a harrowing retelling of the Watergate scandal. A conspiracy to sabotage the 1972 Presidential election by the Republican party, it was the driving force in former President Nixon’s resignation, which involved spy games and espionage.
The film follows green-as-grass reporter, Bob Woodward, played by Robert Redford, and the slightly more experienced Carl Bernstein, played by Dustin Hoffman. The two have fallen onto a case that no one at the time seemed to care about: the Watergate scandal, a plan that was put into place to wiretap the Democratic National Committee office in Washington, D.C. Pushing strong through continued deadends and cold leads, Bernstein and Woodward push on to uncover a conspiracy that reaches all the way to the President of the United States, Richard Nixon.
What may sound like a small story of two journalists following a nothing story becomes a telling of true events with as much pull as any spy novel could every give. It’s a gripping “who done it” from start to stop. Redford and Hoffman really dig into their roles, playing the characters in ways that feel very natural. The surrounding cast members as well really pull themselves into their roles. Every relationship and line is put forth with a genuine feeling that is sometimes lost in hard-nosed crime stories.
If you only have time to see one of the great films that will be shown throughout the weekend, “All the President’s Men” may be the right choice for you, especially for fans of suspense and thrillers. Doors for the event open at 7 a.m. with a showing of “Pineapple Express,” followed by the Friday Trilogy, for what is being billed as the “Wake and Bake” experience. There will be brownies and other food offered outside to support the UMPI film association.
