• Release year: 1976
• Director: Alan J. Pakula.
• Producer: Walter Coblenz.
• Screenplay by: William Goldman.
• Cinematography by: Gordon Willis.
• Music by: David Shire.

Shotgun Commentary: a nice reminder that journalists used to have values and presidents did actually resign after their bad deeds were uncovered.

Review

All the President’s Men is the type of film that transports you to a more innocent time. A time in which crimes were actually punished and people still had the spine to resign their positions of power. A time when presidents who committed crimes were forced to resign, not elected for another term.

It comes as no surprise that this year’s edition of the Glasgow Film Festival kickstarts its “Truth to Power” programme, and indeed its festival—opening screening notwithstanding—with a classic such as this. 2026 so far feels like a warped dystopia of its predecessor. A recurring sensation that has been making itself known every year for a little under a decade now. As such, it is nice to be reminded that there were times, not that long ago, when the press bothered to confirm their sources and stories before publishing them. When lying had consequences. When the people in power still felt enough shame to leave their posts when their crimes were exposed.

The evil you know

This feature follows two Washington Post reporters, Bob Woodward (Robert Redford) and Carl Bernstein (Dustin Hoffman). These names may or may not sound familiar to you, but they are the reporters who cracked open the Watergate scandal. The corruption scheme that led to Nixon’s resignation as president of the United States. Yes, presidents used to do that.

The story is a mystery with no mystery, a thriller whose ending you probably already know. Much like Spotlight (2015), the beauty is not in the destination—which is satisfying as hell—but rather in the journey. Your mind knows that the good guys will get to the truth, but your heart will struggle nonetheless. There is something highly addictive about watching the little guy triumph over a great evil, and even more so when the story being told has actually happened in your same dimension and timeline.

It is this magnetic pull that makes the ending of the film completely incomprehensible. Did they run out of time? Was the budget too short? Did the studio blow up? Whatever the reason, you will spend over two hours watching two dudes running around asking questions and suffering, only to be robbed of the sweet satisfaction of victory with a frankly ridiculous typewriter scene in which the consequences of releasing the truth are laid out by name and charges they faced. You won’t even get to celebrate the journalists’ success with them. Granted, this gives it the perfect message of “truth will out” and “the press never sleeps”, but it is still deeply anticlimactic.

Ending on a high note

What predictably does not disappoint is the cast, particularly Hoffman and Redford. There is a reason why they are such big names in the industry, and it is not just the looks. Both actors deliver great performances that keep you hooked from beginning to end. In fact, due to the abrupt ending, you are left craving just a little more of their performance, hopefully playing a moment in which their characters are not depressed or on the verge of a heart attack. Just to give it a little more variety.

All in all, All the President’s Men is a very exciting watch even decades later. Its core message is relevant as ever, and it makes you remember that there are still good journalists out there. Nowadays, it is harder to reach the truth through the constant bombardment of information, but the effort to find trustworthy sources is worth it. The film provides the one hope you need to survive these times: that the truth is out there and people are still willing to search for it.

All the President’s Men will be screened for free at the Glasgow Film Theatre on the 26th of February at 10:30 as part of the 2026 Glasgow Film Festival. More information on this screening here!

Advice to take from this movie:

• It is never too late to stand up to a bully.
• The truth always comes out eventually. But sooner is always better.
• No human is infallible; as such, no one should EVER be above the law.

What’s your take? Have you watched All the President’s Men? Don’t hesitate to let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, or leave a message on my contact page! For more reviews and cinema-related articles, check out the rest of my blog! 😀