Spotlight is deeply engrossing and gripping from start to finish

Rating: 10/10 (18 January 2016)

This film, directed and written by Tom McCarthy and co-written by Josh Singer, follows an engrossing retelling of the Boston Globe and their attempt to expose a massive scandal in 2001 that shocked the entire nation as well as the Catholic Church to its core. With a powerful screenplay and direction, this film based on true events, deals with newly hired news editor Marty Baron of the Boston Globe (played by Liev Schreiber) who assembles a team of journalists to uncover the massive child molestation scandal by committed priests of Catholic Churches that has run rampant throughout the nation, and to matters worse, has been kept a secret for many decades. This team includes Michael Rezendez (played by Mark Ruffalo), Sasha Pfeiffer (played by Rachel McAdams), Matt Carroll (played by Brian D'Arcy James), Ben Bradlee Jr. (played by John Slattery), and their leader Walter Robinson (played by Michael Keaton). This movie dramatizes the team's investigation into these child sex abuse cases occurring and their attempt to shine their light on them to the public.
This film touches a very heavy subject as far as the plot goes, and Tom McCarthy and Josh Singer bring powerful appeal to the horrifying story this film revolves around. Telling the story in a fact-based manner, this film grips audiences into a dark and dramatic story, hitting the major key points of the events that were going on at the time; and doesn't attempt to over dramatize nor sugarcoat the events that made both national and international headlines. It is doesn't portray the story in a sense of heroism. What comes of this is a story that operates on a honest, solid level as well as an authentic inside look of what goes on behind the newsroom. McCarthy and Singer bless with this film with such incredible writing, and the story moves at an even pace. The entire story behind the Boston Globe as well as the stories dealing with the child abuse cases are both intriguing, yet deeply affecting. The emotional intensity is conveyed not just by the story or the actors' performances, but the thoughts it leaves viewers with of how people were going to Church to hear these priests preach the gospel but were unaware of the harrowing activity going on behind the stage. There is plenty of emotional and heart-tapping scenes throughout the picture, most of which take place when the characters are interviewing the various victims and discussing in explicit detail of their experiences, but nonetheless strengthens the interest in the story for viewers, whether they are familiar with the events or not.
Mark Ruffalo really hits home with his performance, by far his most powerful performance he has given in his career. Rachel McAdams and Michael Keaton are also very creditable here too. McAdams who gave diligence to her role in sports drama 'Southpaw' earlier in the year, and Michael Keaton who impressed audiences and critics everywhere in last year's Oscar winning picture 'Birdman', are both very natural in their roles and are definitely Oscar-worthy for their performances. The rest of the cast including Stanley Tucci and Billy Cruddup who play the attorneys also deserve a round of applause for their acting here.
Spotlight is one of the best films of 2015, and something to definitely watch for during this year's Academy Awards ceremony. Many films based on true events do not come as superb and interesting as this one. It is deeply engrossing and gripping from the start, and utterly thought- provoking that it will likely lead to serious discussions after viewing.