Journalism at its finest gets its time in the 'Spotlight'

Rating: 9/10 (26 April 2020)

Newsrooms are often prime settings for gripping dramas. Whether about a political scandal like in 'All the President's Men,' a war scandal like in 'The Post' or a religious scandal like in 'Spotlight,' these films have the ingredients needed to keep audiences on the edge of their seats. 'Spotlight' in particular is a standout thanks to the A-list cast and the difficult storytelling required given the somber subject matter.
A best picture and best original screenplay winner, 'Spotlight' truly earned these accolades thanks to Tom McCarthy and Josh Singer for outstanding writing. As we've seen many times before, a film can have a great ensemble, but they can easily fall flat if the writing isn't top-notch. Here, we see the likes of Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, John Slattery, Mark Ruffalo, Liev Schreiber and Stanley Tucci build on each others' talents as the Boston Globe Spotlight team does its best to get to the bottom of the Boston Archdiocese's decades-long coverup of priest sexual abuse.
Again, this is heavy stuff, but the way the pieces come together is really remarkable. Ruffalo's no-BS portrayal of reporter Mike Rezendes is a particular highlight, as he clearly will stop at nothing to get to the bottom of the story. Keaton also does an admirable job as the spotlight team leader - his background making things more complicated as he tries to navigate the tangled web that is the "system" in place between Boston politics and the Catholic Church.
There are some films that just stand on their own two feet without needing explanation for their brilliance. 'Spotlight' is definitely one of those.