Still Relevant?

Rating: Null/10 (10 March 2004)

Just watched this film again, and I still think it stands up. As you do, I had a quick glance at some of the reviews made by my fellow film lovers on the IMDB site and it's a little depressing. A lot of the criticisms revolve around the fact that they find it boring, but surely that's the point. Even if the facts were embellished by Woodward in his book, this movie does succeed in showing the boredom, repetition and total lack of obvious drama that's a necessary part of investigative journalism.
Since it does follow the tedium of the job with some level of authenticity, there is a strong sense of growing foreboding. The scene where Woodward, after another clandestine meeting with Deep Throat', suddenly realizes the can of worms he and Bernstein have uncovered and its' life-threatening implications is genuinely tense.
Ironically, if you want to see a more Hollywoodised' version of the conspiracy movie check out the 90's film. The Pelican Brief'. This has Julia Roberts in her Fawn trapped in the headlights' mode, exploding cars, assassination attempts in full public view and our heroine escaping to some secret tropical island. Yea, right. Of course the sad thing is it's made by the same director.
As for 'All the President's Men' relevance, now? Well..It's doubtful that a pair of dogged reporters could bring down a government today. The powers that be are far more devious and ..ruthless.