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Bradlee’s closing scenes and Woodward’s six-minute phone call

Bernstein trying to take over Woodward’s story is nominated for establishing their complementary talents and rivalry

Bill Simmons: Woodward’s six-minute, single-take calls to Dahlberg and McGregor are nominated; a mistaken name at the end was retained

Follow the money

Bill Simmons: The smoking question, Run that baby, Follow the money, notebook demand, danger warning, Haldeman rebuke, and First Amendment speech are nominated

The film

All the President’s Men (1976)

Directed by Alan J. Pakula · Thriller

138 minutes

Cast

Selected cast credits · Film reference

Dustin Hoffman Carl Bernstein
Robert Redford Bob Woodward
Jack Warden Harry M. Rosenfeld
Martin Balsam Howard Simons
Hal Holbrook Deep Throat
Jason Robards Ben Bradlee
Jane Alexander The Bookkeeper
Stephen Collins Hugh W. Sloan Jr.
Ned Beatty Martin Dardis
Meredith Baxter Deborah Murray Sloan
Penny Fuller Sally Aiken (based on Marilyn Berger)
Penny Peyser Sharon Lyons
Lindsay Crouse Kay Eddy
Robert Walden Donald Segretti
F. Murray Abraham Sergeant Paul Leeper
David Arkin Eugene Bachinski
Richard Herd James W. McCord
Henry Calvert Bernard Barker (Watergate Burglar)
Dominic Chianese Eugenio Martínez

Everything from the episode

In the order the hosts got to it. Open a row for the discussion.

24:59

Most Rewatchable Scene

Bradlee’s closing scenes and Woodward’s six-minute phone call

Bradlee’s closing scenes and Woodward’s six-minute phone call

In the discussion (11)
Approx. transcript time · 00:24:59Read transcript
  • Bernstein trying to take over Woodward’s story is nominated for establishing their complementary talents and rivalry
  • Woodward’s six-minute, single-take calls to Dahlberg and McGregor are nominated; a mistaken name at the end was retained — Bill Simmons
  • The gentle post-interview exchange about Sloan’s new baby is appreciated because it shows the reporters returning to ordinary human conversation — Sean Fennessey
  • The Library of Congress research montage is nominated for depicting labor now replaced by digital search — Bill Simmons
  • Bradlee first buying into the story is nominated — Bill Simmons
  • Bernstein’s coffee interview with the bookkeeper is nominated — Bill Simmons
  • The final Deep Throat garage meeting and visit to Bradlee’s home are nominated — Bill Simmons
  • The first Bradlee red-pen edit is nominated for showing the newsroom hierarchy through costume and body language — Chris Ryan
  • Bradlee’s final speech is selected as the favorite Robards scene — Chris Ryan
  • The visit to Bradlee’s house and speech are separately selected for their tension and management style
  • The six-minute Redford phone call is selected as best for difficulty, while the Robards scene remains a favorite — Bill Simmons
41:27

What’s Aged the Best?

Newspaper craft, accountability reporting, political paranoia, Washington, and Gordon Willis

Newspaper craft, accountability reporting, political paranoia, Washington, and Gordon Willis

In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 00:41:27Read transcript
  • The fully reconstructed Washington Post newsroom, period desks, ambient typewriters, phones, and chatter are praised
  • Political suspicion and the role of journalists in challenging power are praised as enduring
  • The story’s patient, stepwise reporting and high cost of error are praised
  • Washington is praised as a character created through locations and Gordon Willis’s shadowed cinematography
  • Gordon Willis’s 1970s work is credited with shaping collective visual memory of the decade — Chris Ryan
51:27

What’s Aged the Worst?

Newsroom homogeneity and pervasive smoking

Newsroom homogeneity and pervasive smoking

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 00:51:27Read transcript
  • The newsroom leadership is criticized as entirely white and male through a contemporary lens — Bill Simmons
  • Smoking in elevators, cars, and throughout the newsroom is placed in both Aged Worst and Aged Best
54:14

The Dion Waiters Award for Best Heat Check Performance

Hal Holbrook

Hal Holbrook

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 00:54:14Read transcript
58:12

The Joey Pants “That Guy” Award

Martin Balsam

Martin Balsam

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 00:58:12Read transcript
1:03:29

Apex Mountain

Redford, Robards, Watergate, Pakula, and Goldman

Redford, Robards, Watergate, Pakula, and Goldman

In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 01:03:29Read transcript
1:08:44

Is This Movie Better With…?

Steve Buscemi as Donald Segretti

Steve Buscemi as Donald Segretti

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:08:44Read transcript
1:09:01

The Ruffalo / Hanna / Rubinek / Partridge Overacting Award

The FBI agent

The FBI agent

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:09:01Read transcript
  • The FBI agent is selected as hot-headed for no reason
  • Jack Warden and the comic-strip salesman receive honorable mentions
1:19:43

Who Won the Movie?

Jason Robards

Jason Robards

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:19:43Read transcript

Mentions across The Rewatchables