Better known as "Deep Throat," Mark Felt is a historical figure most associated with his voice, or at least the idea of it. That seems to be the chief reason behind casting Liam Neeson as the Watergate informant in Peter Landesman's biopic, Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House.
Mark Felt tries to unpack a government conspiracy so famously convoluted in under two hours, while also shoehorning in its subject's troubled home life and ancillary career missteps. There's a lot of brooding and D.C. monuments in the background of every establishing shot.
As the mostly confused and monologuing Mrs. Audrey Felt, Diane Lane is unforgivably neglected. And alongside the stars, a dozen character actors hit one concerned note.
Neeson renders the lifelong FBI man the only way he can: upright and steadfast. But the whistleblower's journey asks for emotional complexity Neeson and this generally starchy script can't find.
CRITIC'S RATING: 1/4 stars
Mark Felt is rated PG-13 and now playing at Fox Tower.