The 90th Academy Awards yesterday featured a diverse set of films nominated for Best Picture, including a whistleblower film called The Post. Based on a true story, the movie centers on the fight to publish top-secret U.S. government information on the Vietnam War leaked by whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg. The star-studded cast includes Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks.
In the spirit of The Posts’ Oscar recognition, here are some other riveting whistleblower films that you can enjoy on the big screen.
1. All the President’s Men (1976)
This classic whistleblower film follows the story of two Washington Post journalists, Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward, as they dig to uncover the truth of the Watergate scandal. Their investigation reveals abuses of power that run all the way up to the highest seats in U.S. government. The movie stars Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman.
2. Erin Brockovich (2000)
Starring Julia Roberts, this eponymous movie follows the story of a one woman as she uncovers a massive corporate cover-up of illegal toxic waste disposal. As she learns more about the detrimental impact the waste had on local residents, Brockovich decides to take the multibillion-dollar corporation to court. What follows is one of the biggest class-action lawsuits in American history.
3. The Constant Gardener (2005)
Based on a novel by John le Carré, this movie follows British diplomat Justin Quayle as he seeks to uncover the truth of his wife Tessa’s brutal murder. Interwoven with flashbacks of Quayle and Tessa’s romance, the present-day follows Quayle’s discovery of a pharmaceutical company’s deadly conspiracy. The movie stars Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz.
4. North Country (2005)
North Country chronicles the story of the first class-action sexual harassment lawsuit in the United States, Jenson v. Eveleth Taconite Company. Lois Jenson and other women at a Minnesota mining company decide to file a lawsuit after being subjected to verbal and sexual harassment and physical abuse by their male co-workers. The movie stars Charlize Theron.
5. Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005)
A story about corporate greed and corruption, this documentary gives a detailed accounting of how and why the Enron Corporation, a multibillion-dollar company, ended up filing for bankruptcy. Part chronicle of the company’s downfall, part human drama, the movie raises important questions about business ethics and corporate culture.
