City of Ghosts: Review of Spotlight

TIFF EXCLUSIVE

Spotlight

Director: Thomas McCarthy

By Alex Watson

Thomas McCarthy's movie Spotlight is one that gives a powerful voice to the victims covered in the Boston Globe's 2001 Pulitzer winning campaign. All the way through this movie treads a fine line between what journalistic boundaries are allowed to be crossed. It may be lacking the needed tension and the lead characters are not nearly as well-developed as we would like. But the feeling of past trauma's being painfully dragged forward is an emotional force that drives the movie. 

Boston Globe reporters Walter Robinson (Michael Keaton), Sasha Pfeiffer (Rachel McAdams) and Michael Rezendes are all members of the Spotlight section. When their new editor Marty Baron (Liev Schreiber) takes an interest in an old case that hints at a sex abuse scandals involving catholic priests, they begin to dig deeper. However, the further they go old wounds become reopened and throughout their investigation it becomes clear the rabbit hole goes further they ever imagined! 

One of the main strong points of Spotlight is the feel of the close-knit community of Boston that is key to their investigation. People in this heavily catholic city do not like talking, especially when it involves speaking up about past trauma's. Soon it becomes apparent that this paper was tipped off about this scandal years before, but chose to bury it. Baron although a quiet almost background like figure is the one who gets the ball rolling. The statues of limitations is largely biased against survivor claims and it becomes clear that some lawyers are willing defending guilty clergymen to line their own pockets. Only determined lawyer, Mitchell Garabedian (Stanley Tucci) is willing to fight to get the case tried in open court. The legal obstacles both progress and hinder the story and in places make the movie feel longer than necessary

The lead characters are the ones given the principal focus and this does slightly interfere with the narrative. Also they do not feel nearly as explored as they could have been, Rezendes and Robinson are both weary and burned out men who live for their jobs. Sasha while her uncertainty about her catholic faith makes for an interesting side note isn't really a character who holds our attention. McCarthy does well keep the movie driving along despite a slightly stalling feel story wise. His movie does contain some real stand out scenes which have the ability to shock, such as Sasha's interview with an old priest who happily admits to molesting boys. The scene is so tongue in cheek, you wonder if should dare laugh at such things? 

Overall Spotlight is a strong effort from Thomas McCarthy and he does succeed in shedding a heavy light on the effects of the abused, many of whom were kids from tough neighborhoods seeking comfort. As one survivors puts it "It was like God coming to your home" and their betrayal combined with their lifetime of shamed silence have torn lives apart. The voices of the innocent are ones that touch the central trio greatly and in the wake of events such as 9/11 occurring, the desire to bring forward the injustice suffered is always burning. There are always mentions that high up church members were aware for years of scandal happening. Soon into McCarthy's film, you get the distinct impression that God has abandoned this city long ago. 

Michael Keaton keeps up his fine form after his great turn in Birdman last year. Robinson is a jaded editor of a small section who is just trying to do the right thing. Keaton however doesn't go for fireworks and instead comes off as the cool and collected member of the picture. Mark Ruffalo is the figure who truly holds our attention as Rezendes and throughout is a ball of energy. His bitterness towards his betrayed beliefs in his catholic upbringing makes for some intense work. Ruffalo could well be an interesting consideration for a supporting actor prize. Stanley Tucci once more give a scene stealing masterclass as Mitchell Garabedian. His wish to see wrongs righted, no matter what the cost marks him out as one of the few honest men around. 

Thomas McCarthy is slowing adapting himself to life in the mainstream and Spotlight is a movie that is a puts him on course. It may have its flaws, but you cannot deny the power of story telling here. The people involved in this scandal were put to justice, but the scars of the actions taken will live forever.