A better version of Concussion.

Rating: 8/10 (27 December 2015)

'Spotlight' is based on a true story about some really terrible things that happened in Boston just over ten years ago. What we see is the process the reporters behind this story took to uncover this awful story. In many movies like this the film can't resist making its main characters heros and the people they are going against the epitome of evil. One movie that comes to mind that did this was 'Concussion'. It set up Doctor Omalu as a hero and the NFL as the most evil corporation on the face of the planet. Fortunately, 'Spotlight' is not one of these films. It's one that understands how far subtly can go. And how far honesty can and should go. This is what makes 'Spotlight' stand apart from virtually every film in this genre. It displays some serious restraint on the part of writer/director Tom McCarthy. He seems to have such intimate knowledge about both this case and how we, as humans, react to things of this nature.
This allows this story to unfold in the most natural way possible. It lets the audience feel exactly what these people are feeling. Thats what I loved about this film. It lets this riveting story unfold in such a way that lets you basically relieve the story as if it was happening right now. Each new reveal that we get not only throws its characters and audience further on our heads.
Which is exactly what the film wants. It wants to show how horrible people can be without hardly anyone knowing about it. What's scarier about this film is how some people do know about things like this but sweep it under the rug to avoid unwanted attention. In fact this film is exactly what 'Concussion' should have been. Both are about roughly the same issue except this film views it from a third party perspective.
Which, again, allows the film to unfold in the very best way possible. Although I felt as though the film was a little too restrained at times. It wanted us to feel the heft of the situation and, for the most part, it does. Except, it holds back certain ideas that keep the film from thoroughly realizing its true potential. We don't learn a whole lot about our characters and that keeps us from really investing in this story. We see them uncovering and reacting to everything but they all react the same way. No one seems to have a unique view on anything.
This is really the only thing that holds the film back from being the best film of the year. It doesn't quite let you fully get into things due to too much restraint on the characters part. But that doesn't stop the film from being an intensely scary look at corporations and religion. It's a beautifully realized film that is perfectly crafted and executed by both its cast and director.