The Post

OscarBait.exe is a well made movie.  Who knew?

In all seriousness, The Post is exactly what you’d expect from the combined talents of Hanks, Streep, and Spielberg.  It’s a movie that has a high floor value that can’t possibly be broken down easily, and while I wouldn’t say any of the three are at the absolute top of their game, they all deliver on their respective ends.

The fun comes from the cast of supporting players who also show up to deliver terrific work, especially from the ones you wouldn’t ordinarily expect in this kind of fare.  Just check this list of names:

Michael Stuhlbarg
Bradley Whitford
Bob Odenkirk
David Cross
Jesse Plemons
Alison Brie
Zack Woods

It’s a remarkable crew of talent.  The other thing to note about this movie is that it was completed top to bottom in 5 months, and at times during the first act it does seem that way.  Pacing issues and other weird little things are definitely present in the first act, but is anyone besides me going to notice a group of protestors in 1971 using brand new, modern day acoustic guitars?

While heavy handed in its messaging and allusions about the state of modern politics, journalism, and the treatment of women, The Post is a top to bottom solid movie that may not reach the potential of the sum of its parts, but doesn’t just coast off everyone simply showing up.