'Mark Felt...': Compelling performance lifts this saga (IANS Review, Rating: ***1/2)

Film: "Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House"; Director: Peter Landesman; Cast: Liam Neeson, Diane Lane, Marton Csokas, Ike Barinholtz, Tony Goldwyn, Bruce Greenwood, Michael C. Hall, Brian d'Arcy James, Josh Lucas, Eddie Marsan, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Maika Monroe, Tom Sizemore, Kate Walsh, Noah Wyle, Julian Morris; Rating: ***1/2

"Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House" is a remarkable true story of the greatest whistle-blower in American history. It is written and directed by Peter Landesman, and is based on the 2006 biography authored by John O'Connor.

As the title suggests, it is the story of the Deputy Associate Director of FBI, the man who was the confidential informant, the "Deep Throat", who helped Washington Post Reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein unravel the Watergate Scandal which forced Nixon to resign as the President of the US.

It's Felt's story. Though not very interesting, it is character driven. It appears to be going nowhere and you know how the tale would end, yet the stress of its protagonist is what keeps you glued to the screen.

The film inspires confidence not only in its leading man, but also in honest, hardworking people where corruption prevails. It reveals layers of conscience that, in turn, lay bare that life's moral centre.

There are minute insights into Felt's character which are revealed through generic scenes like those between him and his wife and with his daughter. But most of his strengths are revealed through the friction that Felt generates from his personal struggles working against his own government.

The tension in the plot ebbs and flows as the story shifts among moments in time. Tightly focused, the film centres on Felt and hence, the other characters come in and out, leaving little impact except to remind you that they are famous.

The film is Liam Neeson's canvas and, as a man of integrity, he paints it extremely judiciously with a calm and unfazed composure. He displays his inner strength in the office scene when he tells his colleagues, "We know we are facing obstruction from multiple fronts... It is our job to follow the breadcrumbs..."

He is aptly supported by Diane Lane in a thankless role as his alcoholic wife who is distraught over him being passed over as the new FBI director.

Overall, with moderate production values, the film is generally low-key, economical and astutely presented.

--IANS

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