Review of Richard Jewell (2019) by Compi24 — 27 Dec 2019

It is a tragic, tragic thing to see an individual's life virtually destroyed by the media and government in favor of expediency and convenience. It is a similarly tragic thing to see a film based on that individual's life commit an act that's in the very same spirit of what it's trying to decry.

For one, this act (and, yes, I am referring to the movie's questionable portrayal of certain journalists) of rhetorical malfeasance was completely avoidable. Furthermore, it's a relatively small element occurring within a movie that's still largely effective and memorable.

And the final kicker is thus -- it's a sin that was committed by a respected screenwriter, who once wrote and directed a movie about the importance of integrity and honesty in storytelling (see Billy Ray's "Shattered Glass").

Why? Why was this call necessary? Do these people realize what they undid in employing this minuscule, unnecessary little audible they called in? I wring my hands not only because "Richard Jewell" is a genuinely great film in every other regard, but because the true story at the center is so very important.

"Frustrating" is a word I've thrown out time and time again this year, using it to describe a number of movies that were just on the cusp of being great, but ultimately erred into the realms of being only "ight.

" Well, "Richard Jewell" is still great. But, what it lost in its faulty decision-making was a chance at being one of my favorite movies of the year.