The Post was the big winner at the National Board of Review Awards on Tuesday night in New York City. The Steven Spielberg-directed film about Washington Post publisher Katharine Graham’s race to publish the Pentagon Papers in 1971 took home awards for best film, best actor for Tom Hanks and best actress for Meryl Streep. The film’s timely message about the power of women in leadership roles and the importance of press freedom were among the reasons it was honored. For Spielberg, the timing of the film wasn’t accidental. Screenwriter Liz Hannah completed a draft a week before the 2016 election, and after Spielberg received the script for producers Amy Pascal and Kristie Macosko Krieger, he kicked production into high gear. Robert De Niro, in his introduction for Meryl Streep, went off on President Trump, referring to him as “the jerkoff-in-chief” among other insults. The two-time Oscar winner brought up president as he discussed the “parallels” between The Post and the current political climate, describing it as “fascinating” to watch the drama that “took place nearly 50 years ago” but still resonates now. “At the time of that story, Donald Trump was suffering from bone spurs. Today the world is suffering from the real Donald Trump,” De Niro said as he began bashing Trump. “This fucking idiot is president. It’s the Emperor’s New Clothes. The guy is a fucking fool. … Our government today, with the propping of our baby-in-chief — the jerkoff-in-chief, I call him — has put the press under siege, ridiculing it and trying to discredit it through outrageous attacks and lies. And again, just like in 1971, the press is distinguishing itself with brave, exacting journalism.” A complete article on the event can be read over at The Hollywood Reporter. Pictures have been added to the photo gallery.
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