Something's awry in the White House, and that troubles FBI special agent Mark Felt (Liam Neeson). A longtime second-in-command to J. Edgar Hoover, Felt has a reputation for doing things by the book. Although that quality has earned him the respect of his peers, Felt is passed over when Hoover dies _ and faced with a new and clueless boss, L. Patrick Gray (Marton Csokas).
Felt's wife, Audrey (Diane Lane), is furious that he's been snubbed, but he sets aside his disappointment and puts the FBI first. That means bringing Gray up to speed about the way things are done, the better to ensure the agency's independence as the Watergate scandal gathers momentum and Richard M. Nixon's presidency spins out of control.
But handling Gray proves to be problematic, even as Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein continue to gather information that suggests the existence of an inside source. And it's not long before suspicion turns to Felt.
As a man who has dedicated himself to the FBI and what it stands for, could he really be the informant? Yet there he is in a dimly lit garage, engaged in hushed conversation with Woodward (Julian Morris).
"Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House" is as clunky as its title. A fact-based political drama, it brings the legendary Watergate whistleblower known as "Deep Throat" out of the shadows and onto center stage _ but lacks the necessary sense of urgency. The film pales in comparison to "All the President's Men" (1976), the classic big-screen adaptation of the book by Woodward and Bernstein.
Working from his own screenplay, director Peter Landesman ("Concussion") delivers a story that feels more like a footnote to history than a neglected chapter. But the cast is first-rate, notably Neeson in the title role. "Mark Felt" benefits mightily from his very particular set of acting skills.
