Review of Spotlight (2015) by Ginak — 17 Nov 2015

Every season there are a few films that remind me that interesting, well-acted, serious films still appear in megaplexes (occasionally). Spotlight is a kind of detective story with some very fine American acting.

Liev Schrieber disappears into his role almost completely (this is a compliment) and I am now convinced that Michael Keaton can indeed act and Birdman was no fluke. Also especially fine are Mark Ruffolo and Rachel McAdams.

These are intelligent actors, but the director coaxes out of them a higher level of nuance, complexity, and humanity than they have achieved before. You believe them and forget they are actors you’ve seen many dozens of times.

It’s a solid script (the quality of the ensemble writing reminded me of Margin Call), and most amazing of all you learn new things about a subject you’ve heard about many time – children abused by Catholic priests.

You understand that there was a cockeyed logic behind it all – but, of course, understanding does not make it any less despicable.