All the President's Men

Name: All the President's Men
Genre: Biography, Drama, History, Thriller
Released: April 9, 1976
Duration: 138 min
Rating: 84
Cast: Dustin Hoffman, Hal Holbrook, Jack Warden, Jane Alexander, Jason Robards

1976

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Universal acclaim based on 18 Critic Reviews

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8.2

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All The President's Men

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Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. | Release Date: April 9, 1976 | PG

Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Hal Holbrook, Jack Warden, Jane Alexander, Jason Robards, Martin Balsam, Meredith Baxter, Ned Beatty, Robert Redford, Stephen Collins

Summary: In the Watergate Building on June 17, 1972, lights go on and four burglars are caught breaking into the offices of the Democratic National Headquarters. That night triggered revelations that would eventually drive a U.S. President from office. Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward (Robert Redford) and Carl Bernstein (Dustin Hoffman)In the Watergate Building on June 17, 1972, lights go on and four burglars are caught breaking into the offices of the Democratic National Headquarters. That night triggered revelations that would eventually drive a U.S. President from office. Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward (Robert Redford) and Carl Bernstein (Dustin Hoffman) grabbed the initial break-in story and stayed with it through doubts, denials and discouragement. [Warner Bros.]… Expand

Director: Alan J. Pakula

Genre(s): Biography, Drama, History, Thriller

Rating: PG

Runtime: 138 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Chris Nashawaty

Based on Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein’s best-seller about cracking the byzantine Watergate cover-up, the movie is a victory lap for American journalism — the triumphant flip side to Network‘s self-loathing take on the media. Read full review

100

Steve Simels

A riveting, superbly acted political thriller. Read full review

The Guardian Alex Von Tunzelman

Despite the twists, turns and exceptionally complex detail of the Watergate scandal, All the President’s Men manages to make it both comprehensible and watchable – with a few flashy fictional touches to gussy up the facts. Read full review

Roger Ebert

It provides the most observant study of working journalists we're ever likely to see in a feature film. And it succeeds brilliantly in suggesting the mixture of exhilaration, paranoia, self-doubt, and courage that permeated the Washington Post as its two young reporters went after a presidency. Read full review

Josh Larsen

The ingeniousness of screenwriter William Goldman and director Alan J. Pakula’s film is that it’s framed as a detective mystery. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

The film features a host of fine character portrayals and a compelling climax that compensates for its length. Read full review

Dave Kehr

Alan Pakula's pedestrian 1976 recap of Watergate is a study in missed opportunities. Read full review

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User Reviews

LamontRaymond

Nov 27, 2017

An all-time classic that I watch whenever it's on cable. It may seem like a relic of a time gone by, but this was journalism in its purest form. The folks that attend the daily White House briefings, with their incessant questions about the shiny objects of the day, should watch this a fewAn all-time classic that I watch whenever it's on cable. It may seem like a relic of a time gone by, but this was journalism in its purest form. The folks that attend the daily White House briefings, with their incessant questions about the shiny objects of the day, should watch this a few times so they can learn to ask some REAL questions to the powers that be.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Mahmus

Sep 25, 2020

This ramains one of the most thrilling movies ever. The pace is slow and the journalism is detailed and exhausting in a good way. It may be too slow for some, but it just keeps my attention during every second.

This movie has one of my favorite scenes of all time. That scene with RobertThis ramains one of the most thrilling movies ever. The pace is slow and the journalism is detailed and exhausting in a good way. It may be too slow for some, but it just keeps my attention during every second.

This movie has one of my favorite scenes of all time.
That scene with Robert Redford on the telephone. You know, the one that's like a five minute long uncut close-up of him talking. Yeah, that's one of the best movie scenes ever filmed, and the fact that he messes up a line and they kept it in makes it even better.

I love this movie.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JoeDeckard

Apr 8, 2019

Although a slow-burn, Alan J Pakula's gripping exploration into the Watergate scandal as seen through the eyes of two journalists Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward played by Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford. Every character from Ben Bradley (Jason Robards we love you) and Hal Holbrook (doesAlthough a slow-burn, Alan J Pakula's gripping exploration into the Watergate scandal as seen through the eyes of two journalists Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward played by Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford. Every character from Ben Bradley (Jason Robards we love you) and Hal Holbrook (does that guy ever put a foot wrong)as Deep Throat to bookkeeper Jane Alexander is drawn with nuance and played with subtlety as the enormity of the exercise closes around them. Pakula shoots fabulous wide shots of Government buildings that dwarf the players, accentuating their ant-like existance within the towers of Babel they hope to pull down. The library scene where a shaky camera moves up into the ceiling slowly reveals the two journalists caught in the spider's web of deceit which they must unravel before the spider gets to them first. And still there is time for fun. Like when Hoffman lights up a cigarette in the elevator, as the doors close on them Redford asks "Is there anywhere you don't smoke?" A brilliant and detailed exploration of what now seem like innocent times and a nostalgic love story of journalism, that once proud and dignified profession.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

ahmedaiman9999

Jun 3, 2018

Alan J. Pakula made a very smart decision by not making this movie longer. Because I think Oliver Stone made a mistake by making the runtime of JFK three hours and nine minutes, and the director's cut even longer by 17 minutes! The result, in the case of JFK, was that the movie focused moreAlan J. Pakula made a very smart decision by not making this movie longer. Because I think Oliver Stone made a mistake by making the runtime of JFK three hours and nine minutes, and the director's cut even longer by 17 minutes! The result, in the case of JFK, was that the movie focused more than it should do on some subplots that really didn't add too much to the story. All the President's Men, instead, made a good use of every minute in it with its reasonable runtime. The Oscar-winner script, with all its cleverness, isn't the only powerful aspect about the movie. Alan J. Pakula directing is very entertaining. Besides building the tension, he shot many long scenes that really deserve to be of the most iconic scenes in film. The performances are all great; Redford has the most of the screen time, and I wouldn't have been surprised if he had an Oscar nod. He has a particular scene in which he changed his face expressions so gracefully. Hoffman is one of my favorite actors and he gave one of his best performances in this movie; his character is so energetic and impulsive and he just got it right. But the performance that really standout is Jason Robards' performance as Ben Bradlee, the executive editor of The Washington Post. Robards, without a doubt, deserved his Oscar for best supporting actor.

At the middle of its third act, I think the movie suffered a little bit moving between two sub-plots; it moved very fast between them and I think it should have made a small breather to keep me gripped, and to make me invested in the new sub-plot from its beginning.

There were many secondary characters in this movie and they were all great, except one character that I felt it should have given some more depth because it has an important role near the end, and a background could have filled some logical gaps. With that being said, this character is very interesting and you may be interested to search about it after watching the movie.

Overall, All the President's Men can be described as a "Hitchcockian" political thriller. Its tension and suspense are unprecedented in this sub-genre. And I loved it!

(8.5/10)… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

tonyGreen

Jan 29, 2021

It could have come from the pen of John Grisham, except that it really happened. The story is told straight, and it really does work as an entertaining piece of cinema. The plot never meanders from the cat and mouse game between The Washington Post's Woodward and Bernstein, and a secretiveIt could have come from the pen of John Grisham, except that it really happened. The story is told straight, and it really does work as an entertaining piece of cinema. The plot never meanders from the cat and mouse game between The Washington Post's Woodward and Bernstein, and a secretive and well financed dirty tricks campaign working within Nixon's re-election committee. There is a lot of great detail about journalistic ethics and practice, and the tension between protecting anonymous sources, and getting it "on the record".

Also a short standout scene featuring Robert Walden as Donald Segretti, as one of the campaign's gonzo operatives.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

imthenoob

Nov 1, 2018

Well paced, Acted and directed. It was interesting to see the events of Watergate told by the journalists that brought the case into the spotlight. And it's one of those movies that really doesn't get the love that is should.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

eagleeyeviking

Dec 29, 2017

Despite a jarring ending, "All the President's Men" thrills with a real look into honest journalism, an incisive look into the dirtiness of politics, as well as a well-acted film in its own right.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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