Review of Spotlight (2015) by Bds92 — 21 Nov 2015

When I first found out about this movie, I was probably reminded most of "Michael Clayton" or "A Few Good Men." Based on the strength of the actors, and the intense nature of the topic, I expected a thrill ride.

Interestingly, you won't find that here. "Spotlight" is very subdued. It features a Mark Ruffalo performance on par with his work in Begin Again, proving just how versatile he is and how passionate he can be.

Michael Keaton is tasteful, graceful, and maybe even a little boring, but in a good way; it's as if his acting career has been completely reinvented after Birdman. Besides those two things, this movie wasn't what I expected it to be.

Upon exiting the theater, I remarked this exactly: "It feels like a great story about a great newspaper story about a terrible story." In other words, you might have felt much more suspense if you had read the Boston Globe article back in 2002.

I assumed the point of this film was to tell the story that might have been drowned out by the attacks of 9/11, and I was right. With this, the underlying story feels more important than the film, but it is very well done and well acted.

I would absolutely go to see it in the theater, but I would manage my expectations somewhat. If it's plot you're banking on, you'll be disappointed. However, if you love film for the aspects that make film great, you'll see a great film by choosing Spotlight.