Spotlight
Studio: Open Road
Directed by Tom McCarthy
Nov 05, 2015
Web Exclusive
A journalistic investigation of pedophilia within the Catholic Church is at the center of Tom McCarthy’s Spotlight: a riveting, well-cast drama worthy of its early Oscar buzz. The arrival of editor Marty Baron (Liev Schreiber) at the Boston Globe brings new emphasis on meaningful stories that will pull readers away from the ravenous online outlets and back into the fold of traditional print media. Schreiber is fantastic in the role of an understated, dogged outsider encouraging the titular investigative team. It’s a shame he’s so infrequent in the film. Thankfully, there is no shortage of excellent performances throughout Spotlight. Mark Ruffalo, known for playing rumpled, incredulous characters, is at the top of his game as Michael Rezendes, the lead writer of the priest cover-up story. Rachel McAdams and Brian d’Arcy James are first-rate as his fellow journalists and McCarthy ably uses them to illuminate the various complications that intersect among religion, society and the ethics of journalism. Stanley Tucci is pitch perfect as Mitchell Garabedian, the protective, exacting lawyer defending his victims.
The depiction of the victims interviewed by the Spotlight team strengthens the film with a deeper emotional resonance. Their pain, confusion and fear are conveyed throughout the film and bring the unspeakable tragedy of what occurred behind the Church’s walls to the fore of the audience’s mind. Most notable of whom is victim Joe Crowley (Michael Cyril Creighton), a very young homosexual growing up in the conservative 1970’s Boston suburbs. Creighton’s performance brings the horror of this abuse to its sharpest and most painful lucidity.
McCarthy’s clear, simple direction allows the performances to shine. He keeps the film moving at a swift pace, while giving proper screen time for each narrative thread to fully develop. Likewise, composer Howard Shore’s subtle and timely score enhances the dramatic power without becoming overwrought. Spotlight is a tightly realized vision of a team of journalists battling the powers-that-be to bring a disturbing story to light and their own remarkable story deserves to be seen and recognized.
Author rating: 9/10
Average reader rating: 9/10
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November 5th 2015
5:48pm
I was already looking forward to seeing this film, but now I can’t wait!