Review for Spotlight

Spotlight tells the story of how the Boston Globe exposed the extent to which child abuse was going on in the Catholic Church. More importantly, not that it was going on, but how the church was covering it up for many years. The actual truth is much more shocking than anything any of them could have foreseen.

Spotlight is one of the most deserved Best Picture Oscar Winners in years. Usually I predict who will win and fail because a film is popular or made a load of money. This year, there were so many films this year that seemed to have the Oscar all sewn up. I expected this film to be ignored or at best win the Best Screenplay Oscar it also won. I will not describe how delighted I am that such a powerful and important film won that award.

The ensemble cast is just amazing with Michael Keaton as Spotlight leader Walter 'Robby' Robinson. He is joined by Liev Schreiber, Stanley Tucci, John Slattery, Mark Ruffalo and Rachel McAdams (who were both nominated for Supporting Actor Oscars). Collectively, they all won the Best Ensemble at the Screen Actor's Guild Awards and if anyone can find me a better set of performances by EVERYONE this year, I would be shocked.

Although the film does not shy away from the content of the abuse, it also does not dwell on it. Any other Director would have had crass, disgusting flashbacks to abuse, but Director Tom McCarthy and Writer Josh Singer were able to understand that just listening to someone describe what happened is enough and far more powerful.

The pacing, the dialogue, the interactions between characters was amazing throughout and I will not be surprised if other people (like myself) finish watching and search out the original Pulitzer Prize-winning article. I can't remember the last time I watched a film that made me appreciate every aspect, from the music, to the cinematography. Everything about this film is perfect.

Extras include three featurettes. Uncovering the Truth, which is a fascinating round table discussion between the actual real people the film is based on. It is a shame that it is only over six minutes long as I think I could have listened to them discuss what happened for longer. There is a short (and by short, less than three minutes) look at the making of the film and was just far too short to mean anything. Finally 'State of Journalism' is another three minute look at journalists and again is just far too short. This is really the only area where this film is let down as a Commentary or more of a look at the real people would have been great.

Spotlight is one of the best films I have seen in a long time. It is thoughtprovoking, fascinating and memorable. I would be surprised if I see a film that is as good as this one for a long time.