Spotlight gets the cheers because of the subject matter

Rating: 6/10 (10 January 2016)

If you set aside the fact that these things did happen , and the political side of the film which is indeed a pretty heroic attack on the Church , a real punch from the Film industry to the Batican --- as a film experience it is mediocre. It's "All the presidents Men" -- but for the church instead of Watergate. The structure of the film is standard , it is cliché... Reporters making phone calls , trying to contact victims and informants. Offices and dusty files library.
We have seen MANY films with the same exact pattern. The direction is typical , maybe the director thought the story is so damn big that he shouldn't emphasize on innovative direction and camera skills.
As a film , it lacks essential stuff which keeps it from being a good one. No love story , not that great characters in general , the movie is only about the church scandal and everything else is low profile.
I'm not putting down the actors who did a decent job ,and I like how Michael Keaton has gotten serious because I like to see this actor. I am a big Inarritu fan and enjoyed " Birdman " a lot.
The Batman ( 1989) is a damn fine film and in my eyes the best Batman. -- in "Spotlight" he played with confidence and great skill this reporter fella. But I don't know this reporter and I didn't get to care about him. This goes same for the rest of the team.
Liev Schreiber was a great casting choice. He fits right on the spot of the role he's playing.
The thing about this movie is the story , the script isn't really strong. It rests too much on the impact of the subject matter and it minimizes all other aspects.
Maybe if it was the first movie about investigative journalism and such ,then it would be OK. I doubt it though , and it is not the first film.
To name some ,"Mystic River" has the attributes of a fine film , dealing somewhat with child molestation and its outcomes. "Happiness" ( Solonz ) as well. " Seven " is a great film dealing with investigation , libraries , research and such --yes different genres -- but in the end they are good movies.
"Spotlight" is mediocre as an experience,for the average movie goer. The only people who may be tricked in calling this a " masterpiece" are the people directly involved with the historical happenings in it.
p.s- I'm not a catholic and I don't care one bit about the Church. I'm not putting the film down because it hurts the church. I'm putting it down because it isn't anything new or special , objectively as a film experience.