Andy Sachs let out a war cry when she reinstated the importance of journalism in Devil Wears Prada 2 during that fiery speech. And it’s still echoing in the ears of journalists, like-minded creatives in the industry for how painfully accurate, timely, and faith-reaffirming it is. It’s obviously ironic that the film that gave millennials aspirations of working in media and magazines has come back after two decades to document its dwindling and decaying, slow death, at the hands of AI warlords and tech bros wearing hyper-optimised activewear. But nothing takes away from the fact that DWP2 serves as a timely reminder that journalism is (more) important (than luxury apartments), irrespective of what the algorithm dictates. In fact, there’s more where that came from.
There are films that not only give Journalism a good name but make for great, compelling watches. Especially the globally relevant, investigative pieces that are inspired by real-life events and landmark cases. And how can we forget about Indian dramas and satires that have left an indelible mark on the fabric of popular mass media? Of course, there’s an inclusive list of movies that will teach you a thing or two about journalism. And you don’t have to go anywhere looking for it. You’re welcome.
Spotlight
Starring names like Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Stanley Tucci and Rachel McAdams, the 2015 film is probably the most moving piece of cinema on the collective power of Journalism. Written and directed by Tom McCarthy, it revolves around the real story of how the investigative team at The Boston Globe uncovered the massive scandal of systemic child abuse, exposing the cover-up within the local Catholic church. The film also bagged the Oscar for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay.
She Said
The Weinstein scandal created a ripple effect across industries, giving birth to the #MeToo movement. But it all began with New York Times reporters Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, who exposed Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein’s history of abuse and sexual misconduct in their report that later turned into a book. The adaptation is helmed by Maria Schrader, follows the journalists and stars Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan as Kantor and Twohey.
Frost Nixon
If there was ever a film that captures the punch that a good broadcast interview packs, it’s Frost Nixon. It debunks the infamous Watergate scandal and revolves around a series of revelatory television interviews between British talk show host David Frost played by Michael Sheen and former President Richard Nixon played by Frank Langella.
Bombshell
Talking about broadcast journalism, Bombshell starring Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman, and Margot Robbie is another important documentation of the times during #MeToo that highlights the sexual harassment allegations and the fall of Fox News and Fox Television CEO and Chairman Roger Ailes. Backed by incredible performances by the entire cast.
The Post
A Steven Spielberg film, The Post, is another Meryl Streep masterpiece. Also starring Tom Hanks, the political thriller tells us the story of journalists at The Washington Post who dared to publish the infamous and classified Pentagon Papers relating to the Veitnam war. Naturally, it went on to bag a couple of nominations for the Academy Award, including Best Actress.
Nighcrawler
One of Jake Gylenhaal’s strongest performances, Nightcrawler is a disturbing watch that doesn’t care if you’re comfortable. Stringed around the life of a thief-turned-photojournalist, the Dan Gilroy film uncovers the crimes set in the nocturnal underbelly of Los Angeles and the man who is seeking violence to sell it.
Page 3
The impact that Page 3 has on the minds of millennials should be studied. Directed by Madhur Bhandarkar, the film follows Konkona Sen Sharma’s tabloid journalist and does a great job at throwing light on the dark secrets of people frequenting glitzy, starry parties. Sharma’s performance, laced with nuance and layers, would definitely rank higher than most in her highly acclaimed body of work.
Peepli Live
Way ahead of its time and probably the most brutal political satire ever produced in India, Peepli Live is everything that’s wrong with our system. Produced by Aamir Khan and directed by Anusha Rizvi, the movie explores themes like farmer suicides, TRP-driven media, and political opportunism without being preachy. A must-watch!
Maharaj
Based on the Maharaj libel case of 1862, Maharaj stars Junaid Khan as a young Journalist, up against a revered religious leader played by a formidable Jaideep Ahlawat, exposing his cult and sexual assault meted out with female devotees. The procedural, directed by Siddharth P Malhotra, builds up to an engrossing court conflict with memorable performances by Sharvari and Shalini Pandey.
Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani
An oldie but goodie, Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani is a Shah Rukh Khan classic that marked a new era- patriotic but also fun. As a journalist, his character feuds with Juhi Chawla’s journalist from a rival channel, and the rest as they say, is history. But apart from the incredible chemistry (and best on-screen pairing), the Aziz Mirza film champions the ordinary man against a corrupt system. 26 years later, we still love an underdog story.
Note : The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
