All these neat little houses, and these neat little streets. It's hard to believe something's wrong with some of those little houses.

All the President's Men

A movie I consistently enjoy, All the President's Men is a fascinating story about one of America's biggest scandals. Plus, it began my love affair with Dustin Hoffman.

This film could have been insanely boring. A lot of the action takes place over the phone or Woodward & Bernstein interviewing witnesses. Lots of talking, no love story, no car chases or explosions. Hoffman and Robert Redford can take a lot of the credit for the film's fast pace and suspense. They keep audiences engaged. They have great chemistry and play off each other nicely in serious and comedic ways. As well, viewers rely on them to tell us when an exciting discovery is made, because viewers don't know all the names and details of Watergate. Widened eyes, fast talking, and fidgeting are essential cues perfected by Hoffman and Redford in these roles. And they are both so dreamy.

The film has been ccriticized for how it portrays Woodward and Bernstein as the sole heroes. There were many other people who helped bring down Nixon...but that would've been another movie. This is about the reporters, chasing leads, writing stories and getting out the truth to the American people. Audiences have also had trouble with the film's abrupt ending and a seeming lack of closure. I like the ending. We all know the final outcome of the scandal. Plus, the investigation and "Woodstein's" reporting went on for years. If director Alan Pakula had tried to jam everything into two and a half hours, the result could have been sloppy. I like that the film end's with the headlines being typed on a typewriter, further emphasizing Woodward and Bernstein's role in the uncovering of the scandal.

The sound design team did a stellar job. The film opens with the extreme close up and high volume sound of a typewriter. It almost sounds like a gun is going off. Further more, the lighting was notable. Keeping the Washington Post brightly lit and many scenes of Washington, D.C. in the dark emphasizes a dark side of politics and further positions the reporters as the heroes.

This film is no nonsense. It gets right down to business and doesn't include unnecessary sub plots, the way I feel some films do. The film gets better with each viewing, because you go in knowing more about Watergate every time.

Emma Thompson in Love Actually

Is this woman ever bad? Certainly not in Love Actually. She's the support system of the whole film and the wave of subtle emotion the sweeps over her face when he realizes what her husband has done...mesmerizing. And having to suddenly turn on the happy mom switch, her composure is moving.


Netflix

In Bruges-Love it. Gets better every time. Must see again.
Lorna's Silence-Some French film that Netflix keeps recommending to me.
Heat-Netflix Instant. This was made back when Michael Mann made quality films right?