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Supporting top-notch edge-of-your-seat direction and acting, Gordon Willis' moody cinematography paints character portraits riddled with determination and fear amid stark landscapes illustrating the towering bureaucracy of Washington D.C. The government seat's architecture dwarfs Woodward and Bernstein in their quest for the truth while navigating the labyrinthine corridors of unrelenting power. Willis, the renowned "Prince of Darkness" for his low-light cinematography literally keeps the Post reporters in the dark whenever they step out of the newspaper office, which stands as a flourescent-shining bastion of knowledge and information contrasting the shadowy cover-up. Kudos to production designer George Jenkins for recreating the painfully authentic Washington Post headquarters 3000 miles away in Burbank, supporting Willis' light-and-dark scheme with this contrast of warm, lived-in apartments and homes with the cold, sterile government offices. While the drama of Woodward and Bernstein's investigation into an escalating series of crimes and cover-ups still rings true, perhaps the film's most surprising qualities is its thematic, topical relevance to our current media and political climate, despite it being centered on an indelible moment in 1972 American culture and history. Could Woodward, Bernstein and Bradlee have continued to pursue the tendrils of suspicion squirming out of a simple break-in story without an immediate circulation payoff for their publisher in today's corporate-owned media market? It's fascinating to ponder how differently reporters (print or broadcast) would have prosecuted their investigation today, or if their media managers would even allow them to stay on the trail of clues. Even more importantly, have the terrible political lessons of the Watergate scandal and a President's downfall been forgotten by those in power a mere three decades after Nixon? Has the 24-hour cable news cycle, its subsequent shrinkage of hard news reporting in favor of schedule filling infotainment editorial programs re-opened the door for our government officials to get away with similar or worse crimes today? Have such crimes already been gotten away with without a truly investigative press to stop them? Have Woodward and Bernstein metamorphosed into WikiLeaks in the 21st Century? Such questions underscore the film's cultural and historic relevance today without question. Meanwhile ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN stands tall as a prime example of 1970s storytelling, mature in scope and tone while staying utterly accessible and artistically true to this sublime decade of cinema history. BLU-RAY PRESENTATION It's a pleasant surprise that this Blu-ray presentation of ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN doesn't digitally erase the trademark tells of its mid-1970s creation, an era which yielded highly distinctive visual styles and technology in American cinema history. Like other film highlights of the decade such as Lumet's NETWORK and Friedkin's THE FRENCH CONNECTION, both cinematographic trends and contemporary film stocks gave these films a unique look, an image texture embracing its gritty grain as a no-nonsense aesthetic which adds both realism and drama to Pakula's shadowy thriller. Under the bright lights of the Post headquarters, this look simulates a documentary-style immediacy to the reporters' investigation, while the grainy depths of the Alexandria parking garage where Woodward meets his mystery informant Deep Throat elevate the sense of dangerous anxiety inherent in these clandestine meetings. The MPEG-4 1080p high-definition transfer maintains Willis' deliberate game pitting dark against light without succumbing to either extreme, and the somewhat somber color palette supports the docu-sensibility of the film subject. Blu-ray's HD detail shows off the deep focus cinematography which visually isolates Woodward and Bernstein as they peel back the layers of deceit protecting the criminals. The 1.85:1 aspect ratio fills your 16x9 widescreen TV as originally shot and screened. Don't just expect the 1970s grain, revel in it as a textural element original embraced by the filmmakers and wisely preserved for HD viewers. The DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 English soundtrack won't give your surround system a workout, but its clarity and subtle mix further enhances the realist approach to the film. The dual-channel audio still packs a punch from the opening (and deliberately jolting) crash of typewriter letters on a paper sheet, boosted in the original mix to sell the concept that Woodward and Bernstein were firing all their artillery from the keyboard in this battle to restore justice. While films of this era have often received 5.1 remixes for HD home theaters, in this case such audio expansion would have had to remain so subtly restrained to not outshine its subject, that the artificial upgrade wouldn't be worth the effort. French, German, Italian, Castillian, Spanish and Portuguese soundtracks are also offered, along with 12 languages of subtitles.
Blu-ray buyers may be slightly disappointed that this release boasts no new featurettes or specials of its own, but then again it's tough to argue against the quality of the 2006 DVD extras created to celebrate the film's 30th anniversary — most of which have been upconverted for widescreen viewing if lacking in true 1080p HD production quality. The difference is invisible of course in actor/producer Robert Redford's audio commentary track, in which the star offers compelling behind-the-scenes insight into pursuing the ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN story before Woodward and Bernstein had even written their same-titled, best-selling book. A trio of solid featurettes take a high-quality look back at the film by several of the stars and creators, along with their real life counterparts inside the story. Telling the Truth About Lies: The Making of All the President's Men explores the genesis, production and lasting impact of the film with Redford, Hoffman, Jane Alexander, Woodward, Bernstein, Bradlee, screenwriter Goldman and cinematographer Willis. Just like the reporters' news investigation, the success of the feature film based on their exploits was very far from a sure-bet success for Warner Brothers but persistence and integrity in their work paid off equally well. Narrated by Hal Holbrook, this 28-minute documentary fills in the blanks about the film's lengthy development and timely triumph. It's hyperbolic title aside, Woodward and Bernstein: Lighting the Fire puts current conscience and perception to the test as Woodward, Bernstein and Bradlee are joined by other journalists (Linda Ellerbee, Walter Cronkite, the LA Times' Greg Krikorian and Newsweek's Jonathan Alter among others) to compare current 24-hour new media world of reporting with that exhibited during the Watergate scandal. Their questions and observations over nearly 18 minutes are compelling if not frightening, to say the least. Wisely, this extra illustrates that ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN was not an isolated moment to be framed in American history, but part of a shifting continuum in which freedom of the press and responsibility taken by it either forestall or contribute to abuses of political power then, now and perhaps tomorrow. Just before the film's 30th anniversary, former FBI Associate Director Mark Felt revealed himself to be Woodward's secret contact, and Out of the Shadows: The Man Who Was Deep Throat traces back Felt's importance in the case. This 16-minute short illuminates the historical context of the FBI under J. Edgar Hoover's tenure plus some of Felt's own personal reasons for stepping forward at his own risk to guide the investigation. Joining these 2006 extras is a vintage 1976 studio featurette Pressure and the Press: The Making of All the President's Men which offers somewhat rare glimpses on the set and filming locations, plus period interviews with the cast and crew in the heat of creating this landmark film. Speaking of blasts from the past, get a taste of how afternoon talk show's explored topics at a leisurely pace with a 1976-vintage clip from Dinah!, in which Dinah Shore hosts actor Jason Robards in a review/discussion/promotion of the film. A far cry from today's plug-it-and-run talk show appearances, Shore and Robards spend over 7 minutes exploring the implications and impact of the movie while the nation was still recovering from the Watergate scandal itself! This a valuable nugget of time travel and a worthy inclusion in this Blu-ray release. Bonus features are capped off by the original Theatrical Trailer, while the Blu-ray packaging boasts a handsomely produced 36-page Digibook insert complete with a Watergate timeline (handy for new and old students of the event) and bio pages of the principal figures and players. REVIEW SUMMARY It's reputation secured as one of the best films in both the 1970s and American cinema history overall, Pakula's ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN stands proudly on Blu-ray as a thoughtful, challenging and dramatically exciting piece of filmmaking. It remains relevant both as a historical document and cultural cautionary tale about abuse of power and the flaccid failure of civil responsibility. Redford, Hoffman and Robards are captured at their very best, surrounded by a stand-out cast of supreme actors without one hint of Hollywood star power ever marring a frame of celluloid. Earning its eight Academy Awards and four wins (Supporting Actor, Adapted Screenplay, Art Direction and Sound), ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN deserves a prominent place in the viewing library of history buffs, movie lovers and thriller fans who appreciate a story well-told that can be enjoyed and appreciated time and again.
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