We all know all too well the Catholic Church and its devastating pedophile scandal that rocked it to its core. But, not everyone knows exactly how that unthinkable outrage was uncovered. It was through a team of investigating reporters for the Boston Globe whose department was called Spotlight. Their astounding story of uncovering the stunning and despicable truth about one of society’s great pillars arrives in theaters… perfectly titled Spotlight.
Michael Keaton leads the team as Walter Robinson, which also includes Mark Ruffalo’s Mike Rezendes, Rachel McAdams’ Sacha Pfeiffer and Brian d’Arcy James’ Matt Carroll. The team is well known for digging up the truth on issues that matter most to Bostonians and for the most part, the editorial leaders of the Globe (like editor Ben Bradlee Jr., played by John Slattery) leaves them to find their own stories.
That changes when a new editor in chief arrives in the form of Liev Schreiber’s Marty Baron. One of his first orders of business is to wonder why the investigative journalist team has not followed up on a column someone recently ran in the paper about pedophile priests in Boston.
There’s a big reason… the documents pertaining to the case are sealed and it would mean that the Globe would have to sue the Catholic Church and that is something you just don’t do, especially in Bean Town. Well, when Baron Okays the suit, it begins an effort to unravel the story. It does start to come apart, like a sweater caught on a nail… that is hammered to a freight train speeding towards the truth.
Spotlight is a lesson in why the fifth estate, as it’s called, is so important to a free and morally straight society. It is also a tribute to a time that has unfortunately passed. Remember when news organizations (mostly newspapers) took time to nurture a story for months and years, all in an effort to find the narrative that will most impact, influence and inform its readership?
What the Boston Globe Spotlight team did was not only uncover the unsavory details of a church scandal that almost completely ruined the institution, but as it became clear how jaw-droppingly enormous and far-reaching the pedophile epidemic was, it also served as a wake-up call to all. Despite the high cost of speaking up — being on the side of right will always benefit all those involved.
The film is also moving on an emotional level. The victims of this abuse are given their Spotlight, for lack of a better word, and their pain is put front and center by all those involved.
The cast stuns. Keaton goes two-for-two in astounding performances (after last year’s Birdman), but it is more of a supporting role. In fact, Spotlight is a true ensemble. McAdams turns in the most sensitive and profound turn she has done in years. The real “star” here is Ruffalo. If he is not nominated for an Oscar, it would be an enormous crime. He turn is equal parts determination, sensitivity and profound power.
Director Tom McCarthy, who co-wrote the screenplay with Josh Singer, impeccably crafted a film that is among the absolute best of the year. This is a film that says Oscar all over it and frankly, is the best journalism movie since All the President’s Men. Yup, it’s that good. It’s that powerful. It’s that stunning and this is a film that audiences need to seek out, soak in and cherish the brilliance that occurs when the Spotlight shines on making wrongs right.
Grade: A+