All the President's Men

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All the President's Men ★★★½ 1976 (PG)

True story of the Watergate break-in that led to the political scandal of the decade, based on the best-selling book by Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein. Intriguing, terse thriller is a nail-biter even though the ending is no secret. Expertly paced by Pakula with standout performances by Hoffman and Redford as the reporters who slowly uncover and connect the seemingly isolated facts that ultimately lead to criminal indictments of the Nixon Administration. Deep Throat Holbrook and Robards as executive editor Ben Bradlee lend authenticity to the endeavor, a realistic portrayal of the stop and go of journalistic investigations. 135m/C VHS, DVD . Dominic Chianese, David Arkin, Polly Holliday, James Karen, Robert Redford, Dustin Hoffman, Jason Robards Jr., Martin Balsam, Jane Alexander, Hal Holbrook, F. Murray Abraham, Stephen Collins, Lindsay Crouse, Meredith Baxter, Ned Beatty, Penny Fuller; D: Alan J. Pakula; W: William Goldman; C: Gordon Willis; M: David Shire. Oscars '76: Adapt. Screenplay, Art Dir./Set Dec., Sound, Support. Actor (Robards); Natl. Bd. of Review '76: Director (Pakula), Support. Actor (Robards); N.Y. Film Critics '76: Director (Pakula), Film, Support. Actor (Robards); Natl. Soc. Film Critics '76: Film, Support. Actor (Robards); Writers Guild '76: Adapt. Screenplay.