Spotlight (2015) Movie Review

In 2002, the Boston Globe ran a feature piece on the Catholic Church within Boston, uncovering that there had been an unreal amount of priests that had been molesting children and getting away with it. What this story did was create a domino effect that resulted in numerous parishes all over North America being uncovered as having similar atrocities happening and being swept under the rug. But how, exactly, did all the information about the molestation's get withheld for so long? And how did all the information finally see the light of day? That is what Spotlight, the latest film from Tom McCarthy, aims to uncover.

Robby Robinson (Michael Keaton) runs a section of the Boston Globe, known as Spotlight, which is a team of reports that will work together to write a single story, but that could take months to properly investigate and gather all the information. Robby's team consists of Mike Rezendes (Mark Ruffalo), Sacha Pfieffer (Rachel McAdams), and Matt Carroll (Brian d'Arcy James), and his supervisor Ben Bradlee Jr. (John Slattery). When the Globe gets a new Chief Editor named Marty Baron (Liev Schrieber), who urges the Spotlight team to look into the story of a priest being accused of molestation, the investigation unravels to show this cover up runs very deep.

The entire ensemble of Spotlight is fantastic. While most of the praise and awards will be in the direction of Keaton and Ruffalo, and deservedly so, the work done by the whole cast helps to elevate this film. McAdams, d'Arcy James, Slattery and Schrieber are all fantastic in supporting roles of varying lengths. As are Stanley Tucci, as a lawyer handling the molestation cases, and Billy Crudup, as a lawyer who has previously dealt with molestation cases. All the characters in the film feel like three dimensional people as opposed to characters presented in a film to advance the plot. They have interests and motivations and feel like people you would actually meet. You see them come to terms with the fact that these molestation's hit a lot closer to home than they knew, and how that shapes how they approach the investigation.

Tom McCarthy is a very interesting filmmaker to me, because he's made some underrated gems (Win Win, The Visitor, The Station Agent), and one truly awful film (The Cobbler). Typically, however, his films were small scale about the individuals in the film and how they deal with their circumstances, and I feel like that approach in his previous films lends itself perfectly here. We spend time with the Spotlight team and see how they investigate and uncover the facts in their story, and how it changes how they view things within their lives. McCarthy shoots the entire film with a subtly that never pushes you to conclusions or realizations before the characters themselves have experienced them. His ability to set the pace and let the reveals come to you is a big part of why the film works so well, and why he should be seeing his name come awards time.

The script from McCarthy and Josh Singer is smart, heartbreaking, and, often times, humourous. Despite the tragic events that the film talks about, the injection of humour really helps to alleviate the tension and nauseau you feel when you find out the things these poor children go through. Adding to this, the score by Howard Shore and the cinematography Masanobu Takayanagi are great, never trying to outdo the events being portrayed on screen.

What Spotlight does so well is it draws you into its world, where the idea that a representative of God could not do something so horrifying, especially to defenseless children. It makes you come to terms with the fact that this is a real problem, and that those directed effected by this are still dealing with the actions of these priests till this day. By the time you are able to fully comprehend what you are learning, you'll be left with a knot in your stomach and a lump in your throat. Spotlight is a remarkable film about truly heartbreaking events.

Grade: A

Begin Again (2014) Movie Review

Pirates of the Caribbean 12

Anyone that knows me knows I love movies about music. It's my musical theatre upbringing. If I can find a reason to be singing after a movie, it's a good thing. Hence why I watch all the Disney movies. And I loved Inside Llewyn Davis. I love music. Can I sing? Yes. Is it good? ..No, it isn't. I'm not a good singer. But whatever. I don't need your judgement. Anyways, it's rare that I watch a movie and have a big stupid grin on my face through most of it. But that's just what Begin Again, the latest effort from writer/director John Carney, does so damn well to me.

Dan (Mark Ruffalo) is an executive working at a popular record label. But the thing is, he hasn't brought in a good act in years, and is kind of a mess of a human. Gretta (Keira Knightley) is a songwriter who has lost the inspiration that made her good, and has reached the end of her rope living in New York. One night Dan hears Gretta at an open mic and loves her songs and knows he can turn it into something special. And so they agree to work together, and start the journey of trying to make a record.

Ruffalo and Knightley are both excellent in the lead roles. Dan is the type of guy who you know cares about the music, but has become tired and jaded. He loves music, but hates what the music industry has become. And it's a testament to Ruffalo's performance that we can sense everything he is feeling, as Dan keeps trying to build himself up again. Knightley, who I have admittedly never been a big fan of, is equally as good. Performing all the songs herself, she brings a natural vulnerability to Gretta that instantly makes you root for her, despite how she may sometimes act. Gretta is someone who believes in herself, but isn't sure anyone else does, and Knightley does a fantastic job bringing out her subtitles

The supporting cast is also very good. James Corden, who I'm pretty sure is my white counterpart, as Gretta's friend Steve brings the right amount of levity to scenes and is the supportive fat friend we all love to have. Adam Levine is also surprisingly quite good as Dave, Gretta's boyfriend, who is a big time musician working on his big follow up album. Then there's Hailee Steinfeld and Catherine Keener as Dan's daughter and wife, who he is currently not living with, but who both clearly need him. Both actresses are their reliable best, especially Steinfeld. And then there's Cee-Lo Green, who I'm pretty sure is my black counterpart, as a rapper named Troublegum, who owes his whole career to Dan. Classic Troublegum.

John Carney, who also wrote and directed the always wonderful Once, gives another movie that feels totally believable. He creates fully formed characters, who have their own traits and lets them live in this world. The fact that he makes you invest in these characters and root for them is something that is totally underrated nowadays. Yes, he probably could have directed a couple of scenes better. The opening scene I didn't find particularly well done, actually. But the film plays out in a way that feels natural and honest, and never tries to trick you or cop out. I think this is due to Carney's work. Also, go see Once on Broadway. I heard the show is really good.

Ultimately, Begin Again is a movie that rewards you for investing in its characters. It's a film that is partially about redemption, but also about finding your place in the world. Because sometimes, what you think of yourself, and what the truth is, are two completely different things. Also, did I mention I love movies with singing? Right. Now let me annoy my roommate with my raspy dungeon troll voice.

Grade: A

The Normal Heart (2014) Movie Review

How would you react to seeing your friends, the people you loved, and anyone you really identified with, dying without any end in sight? That is the focus at the center of The Normal Heart, the new HBO film by Ryan Murphy. Set in the early 1980's at a time when gay men finally felt comfortable with their sexuality, and love. However it is not long before they start to get sick, unable to do anything to stop the AIDS virus from spreading. At the heart of this problem is Ned Weeks, an openly gay screenwriter who is fighting anyone and everyone who stands in his way to find a cure. Except the government seems to be absent when it comes to funding, despite overwhelming research conducted by Dr. Emma Brookner (Julia Roberts). So the war wages on while an epidemic threatens to wipe out an entire generation.

Originally performed as a stage play written by Larry Kramer, The Normal Heart definitely feels like a play. It's full of monologues, features a tight ensemble and is over two hours long. But, like a play, the performances shine through in it. Mark Ruffalo has never been better as Ned, pouring his heart and soul into every fit of rage, powerful monologue and emotional breakdown. Julia Roberts is equally good, bringing the sense of frustration and loss over not being able to do anything to treat these dying men, but never losing hope. Alfred Molina does strong work in a handful of scenes as Ben, Ned's brother, who wants to help but still isn't sure about this whole gay community yet. Jonathan Groff is also strong in a few scenes as Craig, Ned's close friend.

However, the performances from Taylor Kitsch, Jim Parsons and, particularly, Matt Bomer are what surprised me. Kitsch, known for Friday Night Lights and John Carter, is fantastic as Bruce Niles. He brings an honesty to the character, one who is still in the closet because he is in the army, yet doesn't know how to take in everything happening around him. His scenes with Ruffalo were always good. Parsons was a massive surprise for me. As someone who doesn't care much for The Big Bang Theory, he shows a lot of range as Tommy. While his natural cadence mirrors Sheldon Cooper a tad much, the underlying sadness and loneliness his character felt, along with a particularly moving funeral scene, won me over. 

But it was Matt Bomer who I think deserves some serious looks for Emmy voters. Known primarily for the show White Collar, as well as Magic Mike, Bomer gives a gut-wrenching performance as Felix Turner, Ned's lover. He plays into the fact that he's very handsome, but throws you off with a vulnerability, and later, a sense of looming fear and death that gave me a lump in my throat. That, along with the grueling transformation he went through, showed me an actor looking to get his hands on more substantial work.

Make no mistake though, this film isn't for everyone. If homosexuality makes you uncomfortable in the least, you will not like this movie. There are sex scenes, plenty of kissing, and nudity to go along, and the movie does a good job of normalizing it for the viewer, instead of making a big deal of it. Also, a dude with a giant dong walks by in the first five minutes, so if you can't hang through that, you'll be okay.

While the film mainly suffers from pacing problems, and a needlessly long running time (the first half of the film feels long), it is still something that should be watched. Showing the destruction the AIDS virus caused, even at the beginning, and the lives it tore apart put a lot of things into perspective. It is a reminder that the war against it is not over, and needs to keep being fought.

Grade: B