Monday, January 25, 2016

Review: Film: Spotlight, by Julie Renee Phelan

Thumps from 1 to 5: Thumps of 5.  
The film, Spotlight provides valuable insight into the investigative journalism about the Catholic priests molesting children, which was done by the Boston Globe. The movie appropriately opens awkwardly with an obviously disguised Liev Schreiber, who did his signature tilt of his head coupled with the all too knowing smile and pressing of his lips before he commenced speaking. If only he did not have such obvious identifiable gestures, I would not have known who was playing the Editor. Perhaps the Tom McCarthy, the director allowed Liev to make those gestures on purpose, using his obvious disguise as a metaphor for the movie. No matter what the topic, a master in disguise was introduced, leaving the audience with an awkward feeling of I know who you are, which is exactly the feeling that the audience is left with when they leave the theater—I know who those priests are, and what they did to those children. The film, Spotlight will receive a nod from the Academy, and more than likely, it may receive the Oscar for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress.
            Great art such as this, not only presents its product well, but it speaks volumes about the time in which it is produced. Yes this is an awkward subject, the molestation of children by their priests. Yes this is awkward timing—while Pope Francis is winning the hearts and minds of millions, it is difficult to view this subject matter about the systemic molestation by the priests within the Catholic Church. As well, great art presents other topics that need to be discussed, such as the downfall of investigative journalism. Recently, the Los Angeles Times has cut back on their Editorial staff by eighty percent. Although there are many writers out in the wilderness, there are fewer and fewer writers associated with large publications, who provide a staff of attorneys that can force the United States government or in this particular case, the Catholic Church to produce prudent and necessary information for the public at large to be informed, and take necessary action to safeguard their lives.

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