Mary Mapes, a respected producer tied to Dan Rather, believes she’s uncovered a bombshell on the 2004 election—a U.S. President’s military service. Yet, as accusations surge, sources waver, document credibility falters, and casualties accumulate, turning the story into a tumultuous battleground.

Zodiac screenwriter James Vanderbilt returned to a similarly gripping procedural mode with his directorial debut, a sharp exploration of the 2004 Rathergate saga. Anchored by a fiercely energetic Cate Blanchett, this is a riveting look at the precarious state of American political journalism.