Year: 2015
Director: Tom McCarthy
Country: US
Language: English
Spotlight creates a filmic exposé out of the Catholic Church’s unsettling history of pedophilia and concealment of it, while also questioning the validity of any institution that has tried to cover it up. In 2002 The Boston Globe, specifically their investigative spotlight team, published a story revealing that the Catholic Church knew about sexual abuse in its ranks and allowed a priest to keep his job. The Catholic Church tried its best to cease this very film from being made, being successful for a number of year, but eventually Spotlight would release in theatres world-wide.
Spotlight is the true story of how the Boston Globe uncovered the massive scandal of child molestation and cover-up.
Throughout its run-time, Director Tom McCarthy tries to give this picture an objective view of the Spotlight story. Although he has an impressive cast at his disposal, the screenplay doesn't stray too far into the character's personal lives and never diverts from the main story. McCarthy's polished direction is quite focused, which is pretty admirable considering the scope of the events that have been covered.
McCarthy's sensitivity for the subject never steps over a line by depicting the actual abuse; instead, we can see the horror and sheer disgust on the reporters' faces as they realize how far the church has sunk. Ruffalo's grim expression is quite haunting, as we see a man torn by his faith and exposed to a world that is starting to make much less sense. Though lesser film-makers might make a snarky comment about religion, McCarthy doesn't push his personal views into the picture.
This film will get a lot of comparisons to Zodiac and All The President's Men, indeed I see the comparisons as well. Spotlight is a slow burning film that will creep up on you when you least expect it. The feeling of uncertainty, dread and a loss of community stick with you long after the credits role. Truly worthy of its "Best Picture" Oscar.
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