Rent Spotlight (2015)

Watergate goes Catholic - Spotlight review by NC

Not quite All the Presidents Men, but along that direction. Alas, is an ongoing story in most countries, and still not fully addressed by the Vatican, but opened up, once again, by journalists as opposed to police authorities. As is shown, the police often helped hide the events in fact.

The spotlight team quite well depicted in the film, and Keaton does his intense thing, and maintains a thread throughout a complicated series of events.

Expect you have seen Dreamteam and Birdman, but check Paciffic Heights, if have missed it. Quite an old/slow film now, but Michael is well creepy in that............

A difficult but must see film - Spotlight review by TB

When Spotlight won the Oscar for Best Picture and also Best Screenplay, it once again shed light on the horrendous and disgusting abuse of children by priests in the Catholic Church, and rightly so.

There have been documentaries about this, most notably Deliver Us From Evil, which interviewed one of the clergyman and saw him openly admitting to what he did and also his feelings about minors in general. Although a difficult watch, it was compelling to see his victims trying to get the justice they deserved.

Spotlight takes a very different tack. It never shies away from the events, but rather than presenting them in a documentary style, it instead goes at a slower pace, creating more tension and traction in its approach. It also has an incredible cast: Michael Keaton, who was red hot after his success with Birdman, here becomes the strong axis the film spins on; Mark Ruffalo as the lead journalist, at times exploding in anger but motivated by the horror of what he discovers; Rachael McAdams as an equally tenacious journalist who uses her disgust to keep pushing for the truth; and finally Stanley Tucci as the lawyer whose refusal to be cowed and intimidated by the Church despite repeatedly threats ensured that the victims had their stories heard.

The film is never boring and completely absorbed me for the entire runtime, never once outstaying it's welcome or straying from the events. Amazingly directed and acted, with a great soundtrack, this film is essential and difficult viewing. A worthy Oscar winner

A Story worth telling - and seeing - Spotlight review by MD

I am sure I will not be the first to mention "All the President's Men" in relation to this film, but the comparison is both understandable and appropriate, as this is very much in the same mold, if not quite the same league. Put simply, the film does nothing but tell the story of The Boston's Globe's expose of the abuse of children by Catholic priests, and that is both its strength and weakness.

Strength, because the story is so powerful and so in need of being told, weakness because it is a bit of a one trick pony that any intelligent person could outline without seeing a frame of the movie. Personally, although I found it a bit slow at times, and uneven in quality, I thought the story very compelling and the performances spot on. I am glad it got made, and I am glad I saw it. Though not without its faults, it is far, far better than most of the rubbish out there these days.

I agree with Otto...... - Spotlight review by JK

This was an over-long 'Elephant-in-the-room' scenario where the elephant (for obvious reasons), wasn't shown just vaguely described. It felt as if it began in the middle, meandered around for a long time then ended still in the middle.

That said - the film highlighted an important social issue and given that several of the protagonists are apparently still alive there wasn't a lot of wriggle room in the legal/defamation sense.

The one stand out episode for me was the reporter doorstepping a priest who willingly admitted to child abuse as if it was the most natural thing to do. In a couple of sentences it explained the priest/child dynamic - A priest is God's representative on earth therefore must be obeyed message which this priest clearly saw nothing wrong with and adhered to.

Film-making at its best - Spotlight review by GJ

The acting was nuanced and yet striking to keep you engaged thougout the movie . The script and direction was pitch perfect . Kudos to the editing : no scene was too long or cut short . This is a film that deserves its success .

Great watch - Spotlight review by SB

About time the truth was told about these atrocities which still happen today in same and other similar settings.

Engrossing press investigation tale - Spotlight review by Alphaville

This film tells the story of the investigation by the Spotlight team of the Boston Globe into institutionalised child abuse by Catholic priests. It’s an important true story and this has caused many critics to overlook the film’s shortcomings. It certainly never reaches the heights of All the President’s Men and lacks the dynamism that Hoffman and Redford brought to that.

The drama is deliberately played down and this reduces its emotional impact. It’s filmed in a straightforward, restrained manner (‘style’ would be too strong a word). To further distance the viewer, the frame is mostly medium-shot with few close-ups. Despite plot revelations, dramatic high points are even fewer. Nevertheless the story itself is sensational and well-presented. It is this that carries the film and makes it continuously watchable.