Spotlight is a feature film directed by Tom McCarthy and is based on actual events regarding how the Boston Globe uncovered a scandal that rocked the world. The film stars Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber, John Slattery, Stanley Tucci, Billy Crudup, Brian d'Arcy James, Jamey Sheridan, and Neal Huff.
The Story:
In 20001, the Boston Globe brought in Marty Baron (Schreiber) from Florida to be managing editor of the newspaper. One of his first directives was to have the paper's investigative reporting team, referred to as Spotlight, look into a child molestation case involving a Catholic priest. What they uncovered was a series of incidents that lead to one of the biggest scandals to ever be revealed.
The Review:
While this movie is a brilliant piece of film making, it is also a very bitter pill to swallow although I believe it is a story that is necessary for us to see and understand. McCarthy does a great job of taking a "just the facts" approach and avoids getting heavy handed in either direction. The fundamentals of the story is what we see play out and it is told in a very deliberate fashion. Being a sort of period piece (Is 2001 really 15 years ago already?!), it was interesting to see people using non flat screen computer monitors, microfiche machines, and old school flip phones.
All that being said, what really sets this movie apart is the incredible cast and some really outstanding acting performances. I can see several nominations coming out of this film although it's most likely Mark Ruffalo who will walk away with some hardware when it's all said and done. His take on reporter Mike Rezendes really shows how the man's tenacity and passion were key elements in helping to break this massive story and he is easily the most dynamic personality of the group. Keaton, McAdams, and Schreiber are also very good both individually and as a collective group alongside the rest of the cast.
The Verdict:
Spotlight has all the makings of an Oscar contender and it lives up to the hype in just about every way. If you want to see an acting showcase, definitely watch this movie. If you want to learn more about the story and all the efforts that were made to both bring it to light and cover it up, then definitely watch this movie.
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