Movie Fox - Movie Reviews from a Theatre Employee

Review on: Spotlight AKA That One Movie with the Newspaper and the Priest Sex Scandal

I am embarrassed to say that I was one of those people too focused on the attacks on September 11 to realize this scandal when it broke.

When I came into this movie, I expected a movie about an uproar in the late 90's, some threats, but ultimate retribution. The full scale of what happened at this time was just apparently so huge that the pieces were just begging to fall into place. I'm really relieved they kept this movie where the focus belonged, which was in the people affected.

Nothing appears to be left out of what went on, and sometimes I found myself wishing they would hold back. It all felt so real, so immersive, that you prayed that was it. 

Thankfully, they poured this terrible information on you with tact and heart. It wasn't a gruesome shock value piece that makes golden heroes and blackheart villains, but made a movie that was emotional and paced excellently. 

The thing about these things being made into entertainment is that while it raises awareness to people like me, I don't leave feeling like I got a whole lot out of it besides that. I feel it almost wrong to make these situations into movies with storylines, instead of documentaries as they should be. Granted that documentaries don't reach the same audience of entertainment film, it is just my personal opinion that no matter how great these films are, you leave the theatre with an awful feeling in your stomach and not knowing what to say to your friend beside you besides: "Wow, that was terrible, what happened."

Don't get me wrong. I loved this movie. I think everyone should see it once... But just once. Maybe I have too old of a soul, but I'd like to believe there is more value from movies with repeat ability.

Bottom line: This is a great film. A Great Film. Like Oscar worthy. Will I be watching it again? Probably not.