Movie review
December 22, 2017 · 116 min · PG-13
Woke Score
Lower is better
Review
The Post is a 2017 historical drama directed by Steven Spielberg that dramatizes the Washington Post's 1971 decision to publish the Pentagon Papers, centering on real publisher Katharine Graham and editor Ben Bradlee defying a government injunction. The core story focuses on press freedom, government deception about the Vietnam War, and moral leadership under pressure. The film visibly incorporates Graham's real historical challenges as the first female publisher of a major newspaper, including boardroom skepticism tied to her gender, as a recurring element in her character growth.
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for The Post.
Woke representation / casting
The lead role centers a real historical woman whose gender and the era's sexism are explicitly part of her visible character arc and leadership journey; casting matches 1970s history with zero forced modern diversity or mismatches.
Woke political dialogue
Dialogue stays grounded in 1971 events, emphasizing First Amendment press freedom and government lies about Vietnam; no modern activist slogans, identity politics, or contemporary ideological framing.
Identity-driven story themes
Graham's arc repeatedly shows her moving from hesitant outsider in a male-dominated world to decisive leader; feminism is a cited secondary theme by creators and noticeable in key scenes without dominating the journalism engine.
Western institutional / cultural critique
The film critiques specific Nixon-era government deception and court injunctions as historical overreach; no modern activist reframing of patriarchy, capitalism, toxic masculinity, or systemic identity issues.
Woke character or canon changes
Not relevant; minor dramatic composites exist but no fictional canon alterations or ideological rewrites of real figures.
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
Significant 2017 political backlash treated the rushed release and creator statements as partisan left-leaning messaging defending media against a conservative administration; fits claims of Hollywood propaganda even without heavy identity focus.
Creator track record context
Hannah highlighted personal feminist resonance with Graham; Spielberg and team leaned into timely press-freedom parallels; no strong prior pattern of identity-activist work from key creatives.
Production
