The basic plot line tells the story of how the two reporters from The Washington Post, Bob Woodward (Robert Redford) and Carl Bernstein (Dustin Hoffman), found out about, and broke the Watergate story, resulting in the ultimate resignation of Nixon.

Since the viewer who watches this film knows that the journalists, Woodward and Bernstein, succeeded in getting their story on Watergate, it was a challenge for Director Pakula to create suspense in the outcome. Much like the Director, Ron Howard, with "Apollo 13," Pakula succeeds in holding your attention with great acting, tight pacing, and an attention to realistic detail, giving the film a "you are there" immediacy.

Although Redford is much too handsome to play average looking journalist, Bob Woodward, he pulls it off anyway. That's star power! Dustin Hoffman captures Carl Bernstein's hang- dog intensity perfectly. Redford and Hoffman have great chemistry.

My favorite scene takes place between Redford and inside informer, "deep throat" (Hal Holbrook). Set in the shadows of a parking structure, the scene has a sense of mystery and suspense, of a history- changing event taking place before our eyes. Some insiders claim that there never was a real deep throat, a charge that Woodward firmly denies.

The film won numerous Oscars, including: Screenplay (William Goldman), Supporting Actor (Jason Robards), Sound, and Art Direction.