For some the upcoming Inauguration Day 2025 will be enjoyable. That group is a smaller group than those who are unhappy with the outcomes that lead to this day, but so be it. If it is a good day for you, enjoy the celebration. Also you might not enjoy the rest of this post or the recommendations below. Then again, you might. For those of us who are sad about the 2024 election outcome, I invite you to keep reading.
I did not set out to write this post. Instead it just came to me. I like to think through the divine.
Please note: I am an absolute, hardcore, American patriot. I love my country. Probably why I love the below movies.
The Post Story Begins
I have been watching The Pitt on Max and really enjoying Noah Wyle’s performance. I wanted to watch more Noah Wyle so I did a search in Prime. A movie that appeared in the search was Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House. Now Mark Felt is the man who was Deep Throat, the informant who helped Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein uncover the corruption in the Nixon White House and bring the criminals to justice. It was and still is an incredibly moment in American history.
My parents loathing of Nixon and his administration cannot fully ever be explained. I remember watching my mother watching the Watergate trials saying “Get him. Get him.” I read the book All the President’s Men when it came out (I was in middle school) and of course saw the movie several times. It is one of my favorite movies. Woodward and Bernstein were household names and heroes, so was Deep Throat, who we now know was Mark Felt, second in command at the FBI. I remember thinking as a little girl that justice could and would prevail.
So I happily watched Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House and enjoyed it. Then I immediately got a hunger to watch All the President’s Men so I did. Then The Post, and Gaslit, and suddenly I knew this: We were going to make it.
America, my beloved country, was going to be alright. We had survived corruption before. The truth had come out and the country had healed and been better. So no matter what happens now, our free press, individuals, can speak up and work and make a change for the better. We are a country by and for the people. The people are all of us.
Thus I am sharing this post with you all! I encourage you to watch and enjoy and celebrate the love of liberty and truth shown in these movies/tv show. My heart is still singing and I will watch all of them on Monday, January 20, 2025. I will continue to watch them for the rest of my life.
We’re going to make it.
The below recommended, soul-soothing, movies are given in chronological order. The majority of the shows cover Watergate, but also show challenging the bigotry of the McCarthy era, bringing to light torture, taking down a sexual predator, and even some comic relief.
Gaslit, All the President’s Men, and Mark Felt, run concurrently.
Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy.
Thank you.
Good Night, and Good Luck
This movie is about the celebrated journalist, Edward Murrow and his challenging McCarthy and his hysterial, power hungry, persecution that is best described as a witch-hunt.
- Good Night, and Good Luck – Official Site
- Good Night, and Good Luck – IMDB
- Good Night, and Good Luck – Wikipedia
- Good Night, and Good Luck – Movie Trailer
- PLUS:
- Good Night, and Good Luck – Broadway
- Good Night, and Good Luck – Broadway Trailer
The Post
The Washington Post, the newspaper that supported Woodward and Bernstein, challenged the federal government before Watergate. Streep and Hanks at their best.
Gaslit
Martha Mitchell was married to John Mitchell, one of Nixon’s people. This limited series is quite powerful and shows the personal side to a woman who did not ever want to be silenced.
All the President’s Men
The movie, the legend, the film that began this post. I’ve loved this movie since I was a child. It is excellent film making and a great American story. Long live a free press!
- All the President’s Men – Official Site
- All the President’s Men – IMDB
- All the President’s Men – Wikipedia
- All the President’s Men – Trailer
- PLUS:
- Bob Woodward Website – All the President’s Men
- Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein: An Inventory of Their Watergate Papers at the Harry Ransom Center
Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House
Mark Felt’s role as Deep Throat was revealed in this article: “I’m the Guy They Called Deep Throat”. Unfortunately, the article is behind a paywall. However it was quite exciting for all of us when we discovered who Deep Throat truly was. Thank you, sir.
- Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House – Official Site
- Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House – IMDB
- Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House – Wikipedia
- Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House – Trailer
The Report
Although not newspaper investigation, this movie shows the importance of persistence and going for the truth. This movie shows how the truth about CIA and torture was finally exposed. Excellent all around.
A Different Defiance: Bombshell
This movie shows the bringing down of a sexual predator, Roger Ailes. I was particularly intrigued by how the different women in the movie navigated the situation. The acting and makeup is INCREDIBLE. Don’t be surprised if you don’t recognize Charliez Theron or Nicole Kidman. Outstanding.
Fun observation: In Watergate, Nixon was brought down by his recordings. In Bombshell, Ailes was brought down by someone else’s. Go Gretchen Carlson.
NOTE: I wasn’t sure about adding this for one disappointing reason: This movie has a moment of white washing. The security guard, wait, THE security guard, was Mr. Frank Wills. He was African American. In the movie he is played by a white man. WTF? Also they made fun of the security guard for being fat and farting. They could have had “Fat Freddie” (poor choice, IMHO) and then noticed that there was a new guy, and he surely will do a better job. Now that would have worked.
Dick
Chick Flicking Reviews 