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Writer's pictureUK Film Review

Spotlight film review


★★★★★

Directed by Tom McCarthy

Starring Liev Schreiber, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Brian d’Arcy James & Mark Ruffalo

Film review by Amaliah S. Marmon-Halm


Spotlight, directed, written and produced by Tom McCarthy and co-written by John Singer, tells the amazing true story of the Boston Globe’s Pulitzer Prize-winning “Spotlight” team of investigative journalists, who in 2002 shocked the city and the world by exposing the Catholic Church’s systematic cover-up of widespread paedophilia committed by more than 70 local priests.

All of this exposure comes about when newly appointed editor Marty Baron (Liev Schreiber) immediately directs the team, comprised of editor Walter “Robby” Robinson (Michael Keaton), reporters Sacha Pfeiffer (Rachel McAdams) and Michael Rezendes (Mark Ruffalo), and researcher Matt Carroll (Brian d’Arcy James), to follow up on a column about a local priest accused of having sexually abused dozens of young children over the course of 30 years.

As they interview adults who were molested as children, and pursue the release of sealed court records, it becomes clear that the Church’s systematic protection of predatory priests is far more wide-reaching than any of them ever imagined.


This truly is a remarkable and moving story which is sure to affect a lot audiences. From the cinematography, to the screenplay, it’s easy to see how such a film can be made with such passion. Simply put, it’s a very beautifully made film, with a hard-hitting story. The desire to get the truth and tenacity of the Spotlight team is absolutely awe-inspiring and that is incredibly portrayed by the likes of McAdams and Ruffalo. As well as having a brilliant cast representing the team, Stanley Tucci gives a great portrayal of attorney to the victims, Mitchell Garabedian.

As McCarthy states, “Spotlight serves as a shining example of what professional, top-flight journalists can accomplish. I want to ring the bell about how essential this kind of journalism is, because to me, these reporters are straight-up heroes.”

Almost 14 years later... “the Church is now paying a lot of attention to the issues raised in our film and much of the change in the institution can be traced to the work of the Spotlight team,” says producer Michael Sugar.


Every so often, we need a film like Spotlight. Despite coming up against so much resistance, the fact that they managed to break this story wide open reminds you what power journalistic media can have when it’s telling right story. To spur further progress, a website has been set up with information about how viewers can take action regarding issues raised by the film. To learn more, visit www.TakePart.com/Spotlight

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