MARK FELT: THE MAN WHO BROUGHT DOWN THE WHITE HOUSE

US, 2017, 103 minutes, Colour.
Liam Neeson, Diane Lane, Marton Csokas, Tony Goldwyn, Ike Barinholtz, Josh Lucas, Kate Walsh, Brian d'Arcy James, Maika Monroe , Michael C.Hall, Tom Sizemore, Julian Morris, Bruce Greenwood, Noah Wyle.
Directed by Peter Landesman.

Film audiences have long been familiar with the story of Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward and their contacts with the unknown informant, Deep Throat. The film version of All the Presidents Men was released in 1976. In subsequent decades, there have been many films about Richard Nixon, including Oliver Stone’s portrait starring Anthony Hopkins, many films about J.Edgar Hoover, The Secret Files as well as Clint Eastwood’s portrait.

For those who lived through the period or are knowledgeable about it, this is a most interesting film. For those for whom the American politics of the 1970s are unfamiliar, it may lack interest and may seem rather tedious.

However, Liam Neeson gives an interesting performance as Mark Felt, a deputy to Hoover for over 30 years in the FBI, extremely loyal, who was pushed aside by the Nixon administration, was suspicious about the Watergate break-in and continued to pursue the investigation even when orders from the White House came to contain it. Felt secretly made contact with various journalists, especially Bob Woodward, giving him the information and being called Deep Throat. He kept this secret until some years before his death 30 years later.

The film has a strong cast, especially with dramatising Mark Felt’s aides, as well as the advisers to Nixon himself (who is seen in newsreel footage).

In 2018, Stephen Spielberg released a very interesting film about the role of the Washington post in the Pentagon Papers as well as the expose of Watergate. The present film serves as an interesting connection, along with All the President’s Men. Former journalist, Peter Landesman, directed Parkland, the Kennedy assassination film, and the sport's film with Will Smith, Concussion.


1. Memories of American politics in the 1970s? Audience knowledge of the events, personalities? Perspective for against? The impact for younger audiences?

2. A true story, American politics, the 1970s, the role of Richard Nixon, his associates? The election of 1972? The Watergate break-in? The role of the Washington Post, the information from Deep Throat?

3. The film based on the book by Mark Felt? The objectivity of the book and his perspective?

4. Washington DC, the views, Capitol Hill, the White House, the FBI buildings, offices, homes, parking areas, diners? The musical score?

5. Liam Neeson is Mark Felt, his age, gaunt? 30 years with the FBI, his loyalties, to J Edgar Hoover? His wife, love, yet the distance, the secrecy of his job? The discussions? His going home to her after the difficulties at the office? Joan, growing up, her father’s care for her, her mother’s seeming distance? The disappearance, the many letters he sent out, the return to sender, his investigations, finding her?

6. The sense of the presence of Hoover, his career, for many decades, his interactions with the politicians, the role of the FBI and the G-men? His files, spying on people, his hold over politicians and others? The suddenness of his death? The destruction of the files? Felt role? His expectations?

7. The 1970s, the Vietnam war, Nixon’s first term, his background as VP? His reputation? Working for re-election, his committee, his officials, the demands on the FBI, Felt refusing to give the documents? The various jurisdictions, the CIA, FBI, their independence, discussion about the celebration option’s funeral? The atmosphere?

8. Bill Sullivan, will FBI, leaving, security, his return, links with the White House, his wanting revenge?

9. Grey, his role of the FBI, interactions with Felt, his links with the White House, the style, his speeches, the information going on, the liaison’s, the demands? The hostility towards Phelps? The hearings, his trusting Felt, telling the truth, is losing his job after the hearings?

10. John Dean and the other White House officials, their personalities, intrigue, interviews with Felt, the commands, Felt explaining about the files and the information available?

11. The signalling of the days to the election, the atmosphere of 1972, the drama, unfolding, the television footage of Nixon?

12. Bolt, his character, abiding by the law, administering the law in the FBI way, is a loyalties, the characters of his two assistants, confiding in the? The other members of the team, the issue of leaks, his stances and behaviour?

13. Felt and his interviews with the journalist, the diner, giving the information, knowing the consequences, wanting the stories published? The contact with Bob Woodward, the description of Deep Throat? The phone calls, the visits, the leaks, secrecy, the effect?

14. The FBI and the CIA, the liaison of the discussion about secrecy? Grey giving Felt 48 hours to wind up the Watergate case? The FBI being silenced? The reaction to the media articles? Grey asking who the leak was? The suspicions and pointing the finger at suspects in the office?

15. The election success? The seeming forgetting of the Watergate issues? Felt continuing, his motivations, loyalty to?

16. Finding Joan, his discussions with his wife, the visit, mother and daughter talking, the party and the reconciliation?

17. The Washington Post, the information, Nixon resigning, the scenes of his leaving?

18. Felt, the hearing, giving orders to spy on various groups, the Weather protesters? His taking responsibility? Leaving the FBI, Reagan giving him a pardon, his life after the FBI? Finally writing the book, revealing the truth? His death?

19. His significance for American politics, government? (And this film released in the early years of the trunk era?