Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House

Name: Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House
Genre: Biography, Drama, History, Thriller
Released: September 29, 2017
Duration: 103 min
Rating: 49
Cast: Brian d'Arcy James, Diane Lane, Eddie Marsan, Ike Barinholtz, Josh Lucas

2017

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Mixed or average reviews based on 29 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 34 Ratings

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5.5	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 34 Ratings

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Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down The White House: You Don't Work For Them

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Movie Details & Credits

Sony Pictures Classics | Release Date: September 29, 2017 | PG-13

Starring: Brian d'Arcy James, Diane Lane, Eddie Marsan, Ike Barinholtz, Josh Lucas, Julian Morris, Kate Walsh, Liam Neeson, Maika Monroe, Marton Csokas, Michael C. Hall, Tony Goldwyn, Wendi McLendon-Covey

Summary: Mark Felt - The Man Who Brought Down the White House centers on “Deep Throat”, the pseudonym given to the notorious whistleblower for one of the greatest scandals of all time, Watergate. The true identity of the secret informant remained a mystery and source of much public curiosity and speculation for more than 30 years. That is until, inMark Felt - The Man Who Brought Down the White House centers on “Deep Throat”, the pseudonym given to the notorious whistleblower for one of the greatest scandals of all time, Watergate. The true identity of the secret informant remained a mystery and source of much public curiosity and speculation for more than 30 years. That is until, in 2005, special agent Mark Felt shockingly revealed himself as the tipster. This unbelievable true story chronicles the personal and professional life of the brilliant and uncompromising Felt, who risked and ultimately sacrificed everything – his family, his career, his freedom – in the name of justice. [Sony Pictures Classics]… Expand

Director: Peter Landesman

Genre(s): Biography, Drama, History, Thriller

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 103 min

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Critic Reviews

Soren Andersen

Oct 18, 2017

Neeson’s Felt is deeply conflicted about being a turncoat. He’s also deeply flawed, a man who authorized illegal activities to track down members of the terrorist Weather Underground. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Nell Minow

Sep 29, 2017

This film encourages us to explore who and what he was most loyal to. Read full review

Calvin Wilson

Oct 19, 2017

Delivers a story that feels more like a footnote to history than a neglected chapter. But the cast is first-rate, notably Neeson in the title role. “Mark Felt” benefits mightily from his very particular set of acting skills. Read full review

Owen Gleiberman

Sep 16, 2017

"Mark Felt,” despite bits of bureaucratic cloak-and-dagger intrigue and a commanding lead performance by Liam Neeson, is a film that pings off relevance more than it feels charged with it. Read full review

Ty Burr

Oct 11, 2017

Mark Felt is a drama about an aggrieved control freak, which would be fine if director Landesman openly acknowledged it. He’s torn, though between offering a heroic celebration of the republic’s underappreciated savior and a more damning character portrait of a man who, for complex reasons, ended up doing the right thing. Read full review

Mike D'Angelo

Sep 27, 2017

Unfortunately, Felt’s actions, while historically important, don’t exactly make for riveting drama, especially compared to a classic about two dogged reporters. Nor does the film succeed in making Felt himself particularly interesting, except perhaps as a proxy—purely by coincidence, one assumes, given any movie’s lengthy gestation period—for another, recently terminated FBI honcho. Read full review

Marc Savlov

Oct 18, 2017

A roaring snooze that should by all rights be edge-of-your-seat, compelling cinema, Mark Felt lives and dies by Landesman’s laborious script, which revels in the minutiae of the scandal without ever managing an iota of passion. Read full review

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User Reviews

ledaumas

Oct 24, 2017

My boyfriend and I really understood the dilemma and trauma one goes through when working with someone who is breaking laws. We were helpless because we were not in a position of power like Mark Felt was. Watergate was not a time to go through endless investigations and then a long trialMy boyfriend and I really understood the dilemma and trauma one goes through when working with someone who is breaking laws. We were helpless because we were not in a position of power like Mark Felt was. Watergate was not a time to go through endless investigations and then a long trial trial. Having the media expose wrongdoing was the fastest way to stop Nixon. This movie shows why the media is often more suitable than a grand jury because things get done quicker. We need heroes like Felt today.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

Dubeau

Dec 23, 2017

This is not the best film made from the watergate scandal. That said it wasn't totally bad. The story is done in a fair manner but you feel it's missing key elements regarding historical data. I think they tried to simplified it too much. That said the acting was the most interesting part.This is not the best film made from the watergate scandal. That said it wasn't totally bad. The story is done in a fair manner but you feel it's missing key elements regarding historical data. I think they tried to simplified it too much. That said the acting was the most interesting part. Liam character is subtle in terms of emotion, giving only small gestures. It may seems one key note acting, but it's more putting a facade to protect itself. We get a brief glimpse into his personal life, maybe not enough. I give it a 70% for the acting, but I wasn't impress with the over simplification and how the film is edited in general.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

tropicAces

May 5, 2018

Never as thrilling as it could be, nor as snappy as THE POST, it still has an interesting insight into the power of Hoover’s FBI and the extent of the Watergate coverup.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

imthenoob

Feb 20, 2018

Neeson is very one dimensional in this film and lacks the kind of lustre that someone portraying the role of Mark Felt should have. I can't help but think this movie would have been better with someone as in the role. Not to say that Neeson can't act but I feel that his talents have dumbedNeeson is very one dimensional in this film and lacks the kind of lustre that someone portraying the role of Mark Felt should have. I can't help but think this movie would have been better with someone as in the role. Not to say that Neeson can't act but I feel that his talents have dumbed down a bit because he's been in mediocre comedies and action films for the last several years. He hasn't done a serious drama in a long time and it shows.

Now as for the movie, It's not bad. They do a good job explaining things for those that aren't as informed about Watergate as others but I don't think it'll offer anything new other than a nice dramatization of events for those very familiar with the scandal. It's not a bad movie at all, It's certainly watchable but I think it could have been better.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

eagleeyeviking

Dec 28, 2017

There is simply no momentum in the film. The story is fascinating and the acting is fine, but it could have been more tight, personal, and riveting.

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

Fedorko

Nov 14, 2017

What a letdown - Liam Neeson in a more meaty role than usual. His one note acting really disappointed. Direction lacked dimension, the story was predictable. The script and director had a good message, but they didn't land it well because everything else in the film was lackluster. The mostWhat a letdown - Liam Neeson in a more meaty role than usual. His one note acting really disappointed. Direction lacked dimension, the story was predictable. The script and director had a good message, but they didn't land it well because everything else in the film was lackluster. The most middle of the road movie you'll see this year.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

Mar 14, 2018

Plodding, ponderous, dreary account of a career FBI agent who took it upon himself to feed information to the press about a relatively inconsequential political dirty trick blown up into a national scandal by the Nixon White House's attempts to cover it up. Over the course of the movie, IPlodding, ponderous, dreary account of a career FBI agent who took it upon himself to feed information to the press about a relatively inconsequential political dirty trick blown up into a national scandal by the Nixon White House's attempts to cover it up. Over the course of the movie, I found myself caring less and less about the hero of the story, his wife, his daughter, or any of the political operatives with whom he interacted. I guess it is difficult to make high drama about an emotionally stunted bureaucrat periodically slipping into phone booths to leak information to willing recipients who proceed to publish it. The production values--intended, I suppose, to create an atmosphere of clandestine underhanded dealings and suspense--just became an annoyance that contributed to the film's general monotony. I am a political junkie fascinated by intrigue and scandal, but this movie was a huge turnoff.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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