An objective and rigorous political masterpiece

Leonel 2021-12-08 08:01:45

Note: It was written purely for the purpose of completing the teacher’s homework...you can’t hurt the kids who learn news. From

today’s perspective, "President’s Team" is very different from the Hollywood trend of entertainment commercialization and interpretation of history. In literature, the film reproduces the process of two reporters investigating the Watergate incident from an objective, frank and rigorous perspective.
The Watergate incident in 1972 was an epoch-making event in the history of American journalism and even the history of world journalism. It not only greatly enhanced the popularity of the two reporters and the Washington Post, but also forced President Nixon to resign. It also established the mass media to perform social monitoring functions and promote A model of the democratization process.
After the Watergate incident was exposed, the status and role of mass media and journalists have greatly increased in the minds of the public. Great changes have also taken place in the political and social life of the United States. Synonymous with a shady scandal. For the performance of such a historically significant political theme, "Presidential Team" has a good entry point. The film did not spend space on how Nixon and his staff discussed and concealed the truth, nor did it adopt a simpler and more intuitive two-line narrative. Instead, it only takes the interview and investigation activities of the two reporters of the "Washington Post" Woodward and Bernstein as a point of view, so that the audience can better integrate into the protagonist’s investigation process, and be consistent with the protagonist’s knowledge and feelings, and can also be better. I have a good understanding of the difficulties and hardships in the investigation process. Such an entry point and perspective restores the objective and rigorous style of political subjects, and also enhances the audience's unremitting recognition of reporters.
The film did not use actors to play President Nixon, but only used documentary materials. The scene reproduction and the historical archives are organically integrated, and there is almost no trace of splicing. In the film, Nixon, as the highest level of government, always appears on television at the right time. For example, at the beginning, after the typewriter knocked out the time vigorously, it appeared on the TV that President Nixon stepped onto the podium with great applause. Although there was no narration, the subtext already revealed all the hidden behind this scenic figure. Kind of shame. Next, President Nixon always appeared at the most critical moment. When the investigation made a critical breakthrough, when the interview was interrupted by resistance, the TV broadcast showed that Nixon defeated other candidates and was nominated as Republican president. Candidate scene. At the end of the film, other people in the office are watching the scene of Nixon’s successful re-election and the oath of office. The two protagonists of our story, Woodward and Bernstein, are concentrating on writing in front of the typewriter. There is no doubt that they The reports that are being beaten are powerful evidence that will expose the government's conspiracy in the future. The film puts it in the same picture: the sound of the typewriter is intertwined with the cheers on the TV, the smile of President Nixon and the two reporters are completely forgetful. This contrast has not only played a strong irony, but also deepened it. The subject.
The treatment of "Deep Throat" is a slightly suspenseful and horrifying part of the film, because the true identity of "Deep Throat" was not known at the time (it was not until 2005 that the former Deputy Director of the FBI, Mark Felt, admitted that he was "Deep Throat") , So in the movie he was treated as a person who was hidden in the dark and could not see his face clearly. The silent underground parking lot, the "deep throat" in the dark light and shadow, awkward conversations, and all kinds of turbulence... These few details have stunned the audience's appetite and added a little tension to the unhurried rhythm of the film. atmosphere of.
"Presidential Team" uses a calm and rational documentary style to lead the audience and reveal the complex social reality, which does not require the audience's emotional substitution. The film prompts the audience to think: When the government abuses its power and tramples on the law, will you, as a journalist, have the courage to expose this? Woodward and Bernstein played news heroes in it, and before that, some media heroes who were not afraid of power had written gorgeous chapters in the history of news, such as Edward Murrow, in McCarthy’s overcast America, He fought for justice and for his own conscience, and eventually won (refer to "Good Night, Good Luck"). It’s a pity that there are fewer and fewer such characters. Nowadays, all kinds of things that cross the bottom line of social behavior are frequent, but few people can stand up...
Maybe people who are used to Hollywood visual feasts will find "Presidential Team" very dull. The whole film is laid out only by the dialogue of the actors and the process of continuous interviews and investigations. There is no narration and almost no soundtrack, but it can grasp the rhythm and context very well. At the end of the film, the typewriter brushed out the fall of high-level government officials and President Nixon’s resignation. The audience’s heart-wrenching morality was completely put down, and they were rejected countless times. The pressure from various parties during the investigation was repeated. After being stripped, all the protagonist’s efforts turned into the joy of victory, the typewriter came to an abrupt end, and the film ended, but the strong impact contained in the film’s simple and introverted style can still be felt, and the reporter’s role as the “uncrowned king” can still be felt. Strength and mission.

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Extended Reading
  • Krista 2022-04-21 09:02:07

    deepthroat=William Mark Felt, Sr, associate director for fbi

  • Cayla 2022-03-27 09:01:06

    American movies in the 70s were really bold. Faithful reduction events, outspoken commentary, satirizing corrupt bureaucracy. The essence is in the last 30 minutes. In addition, this has to be put into the current China. If you have this idea, you will either drink tea at the police station or "evaporate" you on the Internet. Also investigate and make phone calls to ask the parties? You're not even given a chance to try to expose yourself.

All the President's Men quotes

  • Harry Rosenfeld: I'm not interested in what you think is obvious. I'm interested in what you know. What we don't know is why they wanted to bug Democratic Headquarters.

  • Howard Simons: Harry this isn't a local police story anymore. This is national. We need a top political writer on it.

    Harry Rosenfeld: They don't want it. They're all over the God damn map covering the primaries. Besides this guy has busted his ass!

    Howard Simons: He's been on this paper for only nine months. What's the matter with you?

    Harry Rosenfeld: He's a humper!