Spotlight

Spotlight

By now we are aware of the molestation of children by predator priests in Boston. So Spotlight has no new revelations, but still it is a powerful dramatic story of investigative journalism uncovering the dark secret of silence and abuse. The film is brilliant and captivating. It makes you wince when you hear the stories of the victims. The cover up and manipulation by the Church is repugnant.

This is a true story by the Spotlight investigatory team of the Boston Globe. The actors give powerful and impassioned performances. The two lead actors are Michael Keaton and Mark Ruffalo. Ruffalo is unrelenting and passionate to uncover the story. He is obsessed and manic. Keaton is the Spotlight editor. His performance is understated in contrast to Ruffalo. This dichotomy produces tension between Keaton and Ruffalo. These two actors propel the film.

Racheal McAdams is a reporter. As with her colleagues she is troubled and saddened by the abuse. She conveys this well in her performance. She does a fine job but I think short of an Oscar nomination. Levi Schreiber plays the new editor of the Boston Globe who initiates the investigation. It takes an outsider to see what others do not. He is low keyed, but singular in uncovering the abusers. Stanley Tucci is a lawyer defending victims who at first in uncooperative and cantankerous with the Spotlight reporters. Tucci gives a nuanced performance between an irritating lawyer and a crusader for children.

The film maintains strong tension. The abuses and cover ups build up throughout the film culminating in clashes between the establishment and the press. The conflict between the Church the victims and the reporters was well orchestrated.

All the actors give heartfelt and outstanding performances.  This movie is poignant for depicting the suffering of the victims and the callousness of the Church. See this movie, you will not be disappointed.