The Post (2017)

A cover-up that spanned four U.S. Presidents pushed the country's first female newspaper publisher and a hard-driving editor to join an unprecedented battle between the press and the government.

Director:

Steven Spielberg

Writers:

Liz Hannah, Josh Singer

Stars:

Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, Sarah Paulson

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 18 wins & 98 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Meryl Streep	...	Kay Graham
Tom Hanks	...	Ben Bradlee
Sarah Paulson	...	Tony Bradlee
Bob Odenkirk	...	Ben Bagdikian
Tracy Letts	...	Fritz Beebe
Bradley Whitford	...	Arthur Parsons
Bruce Greenwood	...	Robert McNamara
Matthew Rhys	...	Daniel Ellsberg
Alison Brie	...	Lally Graham
Carrie Coon	...	Meg Greenfield
Jesse Plemons	...	Roger Clark
David Cross	...	Howard Simons
Zach Woods	...	Anthony Essaye
Pat Healy	...	Phil Geyelin
John Rue	...	Gene Patterson

Storyline

When American military analyst, Daniel Ellsberg, realizes to his disgust the depths of the US government's deceptions about the futility of the Vietnam War, he takes action by copying top-secret documents that would become the Pentagon Papers. Later, Washington Post owner, Kay Graham, is still adjusting to taking over her late husband's business when editor Ben Bradlee discovers the New York Times has scooped them with an explosive expose on those papers. Determined to compete, Post reporters find Ellsberg himself and a complete copy of those papers. However, the Post's plans to publish their findings are put in jeopardy with a Federal restraining order that could get them all indicted for Contempt. Now, Kay Graham must decide whether to back down for the safety of her paper or publish and fight for the Freedom of the Press. In doing so, Graham and her staff join a fight that would have America's democratic ideals in the balance.

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Plot Keywords:

newspaper | pentagon papers | whistleblower | expose | freedom of speech | 

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Taglines:

Truth be told

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | History | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for language and brief war violence

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official Site

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 January 2018 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Post

Filming Locations:

White Plains, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$50,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$526,011, 24 December 2017, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$81,903,458, 17 May 2018

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$174,496,433, 6 May 2018

Company Credits

Production Co:

Amblin Entertainment,DreamWorks,Participant Media

Technical Specs

Runtime:

116 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital Dolby Surround 7.1 SDDS DTS (DTS: X)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Bob Odenkirk and Jesse Plemons both previously starred in Breaking Bad (2008), while Carrie Coon and Michael Stuhlbarg previously starred in the third season of Fargo (2014), which also featured Odenkirk and Plemons in previous seasons.

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Goofs

When Post staffer goes to a pay phone to call Ellsberg, he apparently direct dials a long distance number, something you couldn't do from a pay phone in 1971.

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Quotes

Daniel Ellsberg: Wouldn't you go to prison to stop this war?
Ben Bagdikian: Theoretically, sure.

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Crazy Credits

The 20th Century Fox logo is shown, but we do not hear the usual fanfare. Instead, we just hear the sound effects of the action in Vietnam which leads into the first scene of the film.

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Connections

Referenced in How It Should Have Ended: Star Wars - Best Picture Summary - Oscars 2018 (2018)

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Soundtracks

Green River
Written by John Fogerty
Performed by Creedence Clearwater Revival
Courtesy of Concord Music Group, Inc.

User Reviews

A Timely Reminder

"The Post" arrives to remind us about the indispensable role of the press in a democracy, ours in this particular case. An historical fact that comes to illustrate the dangerous times we're living now. The story of The Pentagon Papers is not ancient history and yet people seem to have forgotten. Americans in their 20's don't know about it as they didn't know about the House Of UnAmerican Activities. Education is at the center of our future so thank you Steven Spielberg for contributing to the awakening. In "The Post" the economy of the retelling is part of its brilliance. Tom Hanks as Ben Bradlee is not Jason Robards but a Hanks, profoundly human, version of the man and Meryl Streep - Oh Meryl Streep ! - gives life to a woman who was not used to be the center of attention. A daughter a wife never in charge. Her dilemma is the sort of dilemma that, artists, teachers, parents, often confront. Her process to arrive to her decision is immensely moving and real. One of the miracles that Meryl Streep manages to perform again and again is that one forgets that it is her a second after she appears on the screen. I know this is a film I see again and show to youngsters at every possible opportunity. Thank you for that.