Spotlight (2015)

by Luke Rajczuk

This, ‘based on a true story’, film is a tribute to tremendously hard work from Boston Globe investigative journalists who uncover the excruciatingly large child molestation scandal within the local Massachusetts’ Catholic Archdiocese. Fantastic ‘pleiade’ of actors Mark Ruffallo (Mike), Michael Keaton (Editor ‘Robby’), Rachel McAdams (Sacha) and Liev Shreiber (Marty) form a well-bonding team and persistently break into the hidden secrets of the clergy having the corrupt legal system standing in a way of unveiling the ‘unholy’ paedophilia story.

Fantastic acting job from Ruffalo (Shutter Island) who, in a very excentric way, performs his journo character faultlessly. From Birdman to a newspaper Spotlight section editor Micheal Keaton does not disappoint either. He’s brisk, frisk and fresh, keeping the necessary dynamism upbeat for the role. Stanley Tucci (The Devil Wears Prada) as Church-suing contingency lawyer Mitchell Garabedian brings the calm and collected Tucci style to the table. Similar tranquility can be found in the act of editor-in-chief Marty (Liev Shreiber) thanks to whose initiative the scandal gets pursued.

Qudos go to director Tom McCarthy (2012, UP) for his attention to detail and grasp of the journalism world, its layers, difficulties and restraints. The film gets close, in terms of quality, professionalism, descriptive narrative and bravery to Pakula’s All the President’s Men. It’s also very important to say that this production appears 12 long years after the unforgettably tragic story takes place. Why?

“Sexual abuse of minors is a problem that affects many institutions in our society,” wrote Cesareo, head of the body charged with making sure the church enforces the rules it created after the scandal exploded. “In 2002, the Catholic Church recognized that it was not immune to this issue.”

Francesco C. Cesareo (USCCB National Review Board)

 [imdb id=”tt1895587″]