victordelavieter

We should be happy movies such as this one are still made. Maybe expectations were a little high but Taika Waititi going back to his roots gives us a sweet little movie about the 'other' Samoa: a small politically disenfranchised American protectorate with only 50.000 inhabitants. Wikipedia has it that Samoans are typically friendly and warm people and it is obvious Waititi wants to get that across.

It takes some time to get going, occasionally it feels there is something missing, the culture clash between the battered European/American soccer coach and the religious zen mentality of the islanders doesn't totally pan out, but whatever. I came out of the cinema quite relaxed, thinking about the contrast with the bombastic trailers that were programmed before it.

Moral ambiguities are the essence of the Mark Felt character. What motivated this FBI No2 to become informer for the media? Spite because he wasn't chosen for the lead role? Anger at political meddling in his work? Outrage at the cover-up after the Watergate break-in?

This movie focuses on the law enforcement aspect - that is what he cares for. In his heart he's a policeman. The silent 'right is right and wrong is wrong' type. Playing by the rules is what drives him, even refusing to use the FBI network to find is own lost daughter. The White House is something to stay away as far as possible from. But then he realises: there is a bigger picture: the Nixon political machine is one big fraud. The law is at stake. And that's one thing he's not going to put up with. Truth must out. For better or for worse.

Not for action movies lovers, this Liam Neeson vehicle. But if you are interested in psychological and political drama there is much to enjoy here. After a while Felt's persona and dilemmas come to the forefront so much you really get involved with the protagonist's dilemmas. Is it All the president's men turned around? That act is hard to follow. But the makers took much of the good things out of that example. Take the slow, pace of plot development. As is said probably much too slow for those who want blow-by-blow action. But if you want a view on the shocking events that lead to the impeachment of - probably - the US's most paranoid president of the 20th century, go see.