Spotlight

Directed by Tom McCarthy
Written by Josh Singer and Tom McCarthy

Cinematography by Masanobu Takayanagi
Runtime 128 min Color
Aspect Ratio 1.85 : 1
Camera Arri Alexa XT, Panavision Lightweight, PCZ, Super Speed Z-Series MKII, Ultra Speed Z-Series MKII and Angenieux Optimo Lenses

Mark Ruffalo … Mike Rezendes
Michael Keaton … Walter ‘Robby’ Robinson
Rachel McAdams … Sacha Pfeiffer

Liev Schreiber … Marty Baron
John Slattery … Ben Bradlee Jr.
Brian d’Arcy James … Matt Carroll
Stanley Tucci … Mitchell Garabedian
Elena Wohl … Barbara

Gene Amoroso … Steve Kurkjian
Doug Murray … Peter Canellos
Sharon McFarlane … Helen Donovan
Jamey Sheridan … Jim Sullivan
Neal Huff … Phil Saviano
Billy Crudup … Eric Macleish
Robert B. Kennedy … Court Clerk Mark
Duane Murray … Hansi Kalkofen
Brian Chamberlain … Paul Burke
Michael Cyril Creighton … Joe Crowley
Paul Guilfoyle … Pete Conley
Michael Countryman … Richard Gilman

This film draws the curtains, allowing us to see the decisions and process behind the true story of how the Boston Globe followed accusations of a pervasive cover-up of child molestation by the Boston Catholic Archdiocese. The film pulls it’s name from a small team of investigative journalists who search for a single story worthy of devoting weeks or months of work to “Spotlight” a story of depth and complexity that otherwise would not come to life.

When Marty Baron(Liev Schreiber, a new editor comes to the Globe, there is a fear of further job cuts, but also as a Jew and someone without roots in Boston, he will not appreciate way the town works. When he suggests that the Spotlight team take on allegation of pedophile priests, he is not only asking them to challenge Cardinal Law’s leadership of the Boston Catholic Archdiocese, but to potentially anger the bulk of their readership. This is a city where the church dominates the social and business connections of it’s residents.

Michael Keaton, brings sensitivity to his role as Walter ‘Robby’ Robinson, the experienced head of the Spotlight team. He is committed to his mission of uncovering the truth, and supportive of his reporters, but he is also deeply connected to the intuitions and people he now finds himself investigating. Each of the reporters, while none are devoted Catholics, each had or has some favorable tie to the church. These are reporters following a story and trying to protect children. You never get the impression that Mike Rezendes (Mark Ruffalo,)Sacha, (Rachel McAdams), or anyone else at the paper is happy that the story turned out the way it did, but that they were determined not to let crimes go unanswered.

It was very well written and edited. This was a different story to tell because of the complexity and scope, it ran the risk of being different to follow or moving too slowly, but it maintained an effective pacing. It at times, reminded me of “All the President’s men, different, but it had a similar feel, that film was a bit more of the cover-up climbing up the latter, this was more of ever rising levels of proof.

This could result in Keaton and ruffalo getting Oscar nominations. In general, I found this to be a well acted, with an important story to tell.