Movie #106- "All the President's Men" (1976)

I was only 10 years old the year Richard Nixon resigned from the presidency.  I wasn't quite old enough to understand the scandal that was Watergate.  Due to the media coverage (however, no 24 hour news networks), I can remember many of the names of those involved.  It's strange to recall Haldeman, Dean, Ehrlichman, and Liddy, as well as the two men that helped bring them down, Woodward and Bernstein.  I was aware of the names even though I wasn't aware of the complexity of the situation.
History supplies the viewer with the ending, still "All the President's Men" is a tightly wound thriller.  It's also a film that works on many different perspectives.  You see the historical and political view, as well as the changing face of journalism and the way we gather information.  Several phone conversations push the story forward, and it's somewhat quaint to watch one of the reporters digging through a pile of phone books to find the number of a potential source.
Still, this was a story that took time to shape.  From the beginning, there was doubt on whether Woodward and Bernstein had a story worth the time and effort.  The reporters continued to hammer away at insiders, not realizing where the road would lead.  Other news organizations paid little attention.  You make a comparison to how journalism works today, where speed trumps accuracy.  I would be curious to see how the early stages of this story would have been handled in today's media climate.  Would the time have been spent, or would early conclusions be drawn, then move on to the next issue?
I've read some posts about how this film is shown in schools, with several commenting on the slow pace.  I disagree.  The scandal didn't quickly unfold, and the movie shouldn't shortchange the work.  These are two men, working on a hunch, feeling the narrative may be of significance, then trying to follow it to the conclusion.  Redford and Hoffman are on even footing, matching each others performances.  It helps that they are surrounded by a strong supporting cast, especially Jason Robards as an editor holding out for someone to go "on the record".  A great movies reflecting an unfortunate part of American history.

Rating: 10/10
Movies I've previously seen: 6
First time viewings: 100