As a renowned producer and close associate of Dan Rather, Mary Mapes believes she’s broken the biggest story of the 2004 election: revelations of a sitting U.S. President’s military service. But when allegations come pouring in, sources change their stories, document authenticity is questioned, and the casualties begin to mount.
Acting
Blanchett's spiral is masterclass-level breakdown.
Direction
Vanderbilt turns office meetings into thriller sequences.
Writing
Dialogue that makes journalism feel like combat.
Director
James Vanderbilt
Cate Blanchett
Mary Mapes
Robert Redford
Dan Rather
Dennis Quaid
Lt. Colonel Roger Charles
Elisabeth Moss
Lucy Scott
Bruce Greenwood
Andrew Heyward
Stacy Keach
Lt. Colonel Bill Burkett
John Benjamin Hickey
Mark Wrolstad
Topher Grace
Mike Smith
Dermot Mulroney
Lawrence Lanpher
David Lyons
Josh Howard
Rachael Blake
Betsy West
Natalie Saleeba
Mary Murphy
Noni Hazlehurst
Nicki Burkett
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The film adapts Mapes's own memoir, making it a fascinating case of a subject controlling her own cinematic autopsy.
Robert Redford had been trying to play Dan Rather for over a decade; the real Rather later called the film 'absolutely accurate' despite his minimal involvement.
AU
US
