Viewing the film "All the President's Men" I saw a true work of art and a testimony to journalism's finest hour.
Gripping emotions of fear were threaded throughout the film leading you from scene to scene. A dark indoor parking lot although shot in color appeared in your mind as black and white full of deep shadows. Driving forward not knowing where they are going or to what end they will find.These are all portions from this highly acclaimed film, of how two journalists brought down a president and lived to tell about it.
Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward were shown as young and hungry journalists, bringing compelling evidence piece by piece to their managing editors that were creditable enough to keep the investigation going forward.
It was their due diligence, to get the story that gives us cause to be still reviewing this film after forty years.
Steve Doig, the Cronkite School's Knight Chair (pictured) gave opening and closing remarks to our class.
Denise Powell
Bok Technical High School
Philadelphia, PA
I meant to ask Steve about his thoughts on New Journalism and the Hunter S. Thompson approach- but only because of his Steadman illustrated 'Flying Dog' beer t-shirt!
ReplyDeleteAdmittedly, I'd never actually seen this film from start to finish, and I'm a bit of a film snob, having run through the AFI 100 as a teen but skipped over this- Steve was way better than my usual trip to imdb.com on the film's subtleties and reflections of a certain time period and the fevered approach to investigative journalism. At a time when hard, truthful, clean investigative journalism is seemingly on the down slope, this is definitely an inspiring film (and the source of one of my favorite Simpsons movie parodies re: the deep throat parking garage scenes)...American film in the mid-late 70s has never been replicated and probably never will...interesting time capsule, and I appreciated the discussion on set design and sound editing prior to the viewing.
While I think students would fall asleep if this was taught from a historical perspective, Alan's insights on teaching the film as a way to observe the reporting and interviewing approach of the journalists on screen was a crucial insight. Good stuff.
Cody Roberts
Milby High School
Houston