Well only two releases this week for home viewing to note.
SPOTLIGHT
Directed by Tom McCarthy
Screenplay by Tom McCarthy and Josh Singer
Starring Rachel McAdams; Mark Ruffalo; Michael Keaton; John Flattery; and Live Schreiber
The true story of how the Boston Globe Spotlight Team uncovered the massive scandal of child molestation and cover-up within the local Catholic Archdiocese, shaking the entire Catholic Church to its core.
Let me take you back to a different time. When newspapers did not have an agenda. They just worked hard on a story to get the truth out. And, as in this story, they push for the truth despite all the obstacles in front of you. Lets face it. These reporters were not just fighting priests they were fighting the beliefs of most of Boston who were Catholic. In the face of all the push back...they worked very hard to get the truth out to the public. These reporters were heroes who opened up a can of worms.
This film is very good, an Oscar Nominee, and made it on my top ten list for the 2015 year
Every single actor in this film gives a fantastic performance. Highlighted by Ruffalo as Rezendes. He pushes and pushes and gets emotionally involved.
Yes, it is a hard film to see. However you have to watch it. Take the awful subject matter out of it and watch these reporters work. At one point they could have just settled for going after 6-7 people, but no, they decided to work harder and see how far this goes.
If you want to see a really good film the harkens back to All The Presidents Men and good journalism go see this 4 1/2 out of 5 stars.
SECRET IN THEIR EYES
Directed by Billy Ray
Screenplay by Billy Ray
Based on the screenplay by Juan Jose Campenella
Starring: Julia Roberts; Nicole Kidman; Chiwetel Ejiofor
A tight-knit team of rising investigators Ray and Jess (Roberts and Ejiofor), along with their supervisor Claire (Kidman), is suddenly torn apart when they discover that Jess's teenage daughter has been brutally murdered.
Well, it is hard to come into this movie knowing the whole story and already knowing what is coming. I have seen the Argentinian version of this film. The Argentianian version is better. Still...that is not saying much, as in the Argentinian version, this American version is creepy and sad.
Positives?
This is Julia Roberts best performance in a long while. You see her melt before your eyes and never recover.
Ejiofer is terrific as the guilt ridden investigator.
Well that is all I have for positives. There are a lot of negatives.
The film flips back and forth between time periods which can be confusing.
There are ridiculous, almost laughable searches including one at Dodger Stadium.
Nicole Kidman really struggled with the American dialect. She kept slipping, and you can pick up her Aussie twang often.
The so called relationship between Ray and Claire goes nowhere and it almost seems like filler.
The ending almost made the film irrelevant...No Spoilers Here...but that is why the Argentinian version I felt failed also. You are just left with a creepy factor, with a lot of sadness.
This film should not have been remade...2 out if 5 stars for Secret In Their Eyes.
As always from the shadows thanks for your time.
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