
See that page from the NYT? It's from 1861. Yeah, the famous newspaper has been around a long time. Will it last or go belly up like so many other papers?
This is the premise of a fantastic film.
My dear spouse and I wondered if an hour and a half on the inner workings of the Times would hold our interest...or, I should say, my interest. Unlike my spouse, who revels in all things psychological, social, or political, I tend toward more sentimental pieces: romance, action, sci-fi, and other fairly low-road themes. Was I wrong to doubt this extraordinary work of art: it grabbed my interest and kept me mesmerized!
The brilliance of the film is that it does so much while asking a very simple question: Will/Should the New York Times paper edition continue, as it has for more than a century?
The flick offers a wonderful history lesson on journalism: we are reminded of Watergate and other events where freedom of the press saved OUR freedoms. Page One covers all aspects of the First Amendment, including a thought-provoking look at Freedom of Information vs. Rights to Privacy/Threats to National Security.
Remember Judith Miller? Remember other journalists who have gotten the news wrong? Are you familiar with the foul-mouthed, ex-street bum David Carr, one of the top editors at The Times? Meet all the big shots in this inside look at a famous American institution.
Most importantly, consider if the web-fed news is better than the old-style news.
The local papers gave the film three stars. This reviewer would give it five.
One of the finest documentaries ever!