Starring: Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber, Stanley Tucci
Spotlight
Director: Tom McCarthy
Rating: 4.5/5
Spotlight is a January movie that I have been looking forward to for quite some time and it is already one of the most critically acclaimed films of 2016. Is it going to taste Oscar triumph? I guess we are going to have to wait but it is in the mix with six nominations, including one for Best Picture.
Spotlight marks the return of Tom McCarthy to the director's chair for his first feature film since The Cobbler. As well as being in the director's chair, McCarthy has teamed up with Josh Singer to pen a truly terrific screenplay. You really cannot afford to miss Spotlight this weekend and it is a brilliant, powerful, and incredibly intelligent film.
When newly appointed editor Marty Baron (Liev Schreiber) arrives from Miami to take charge of the Globe in the summer of 2001, he immediately directs the Spotlight team to follow up on a column about a local priest accused of having sexually abused dozens of young parishioners over the course of 30 years.
Fully aware that taking on the Catholic Church in Boston will have major ramifications, Spotlight editor Walter 'Robby' Robinson (Keaton), reporters Sacha Pfeiffer (McAdams) and Michael Rezendes (Ruffalo), and researcher Matt Carroll (Brian d'Arcy James) begin delving more deeply into the case.
As they confer with victims' attorney Mitchell Garabedian (Tucci), interview adults who were molested as children, and pursue the release of sealed court records, it becomes clear that the Church's systematic protection of predatory priests is far more wide-reaching than any of them ever imagined.
We have treated to some wonderful journalism movies such as All The President's Men and Good Night and Good Luck over the years, and Spotlight really is up there with some of the very best in this film genre.
McCarthy's script is a gripping piece of cinema and yet, it never loses sight of the human pain and devastations caused by what was uncovered by the journalists at the Boston Globe. It is a movie that doesn't sensationalise the story it is, instead, very raw, real, and incredibly human.
Mark Ruffalo and Michael Keaton lead an all-star cast and they both deliver incredible performances. Ruffalo gives a wonderfully emotional turn as he recognises that he could have quite easily been a victim himself.
Of course, this is an incredibly tough subject matter but McCarthy and this talented cast has made this a very watchable film. The movie is driven by the journalist's battle to uncover and discover the truth and you really feel like you are on a journey with these core characters.
At two hours and seven minutes, this is a movie that doesn't hang around and it mirrors the urgency that the characters feel this story needs to be investigated and told to the world.
I have always been a huge fan of the investigative journalism movie and Spotlight really is up there with the iconic All The President's Men. This is a powerful piece of cinema that never shies away from the tough and controversial subject matter. At the same time, it tackles that subject matter with a care and respect that the victims deserve.
It is no wonder that Spotlight has been met with acclaim in the U.S. as it is the best film of 2016 so far. The movie is driven forward by great performances from some wonderful actors and it is set to be one of the best ensemble movies of the year. This is really not to be missed. It is a movie that will stay with you long after the credits have rolled.
Spotlight is out now.