Tuesday, December 10, 2019
Richard Jewell
In Atlanta’s Centennial Park, security guard Richard Jewell (Paul Walter Hauser) discovers a suspicious unattended backpack at the 1996 Olympics. He notifies the bomb squad & begins to clear the area but the package explodes killing 2 & injuring over a 100. Jewell becomes an instant hero until 3 days later, a newspaper article identifies him as a suspect because he fits the FBI’s criminal profile. He & his mom (Kathy Bates) become harassed by the FBI & he becomes unjustly vilified by media. Director Clint Eastwood has masterfully crafted an emotional film based on true events with possibly some literary license to create dramatic tension. Jewell is characterized as an overzealous wannabe cop who may not be not be the brightest bulb but he is a by the book kind of guy. Olivia Wilde plays the overly ambitious do anything to break the story newspaper reporter Kathy Skruggs. Jon Hamm is the lead FBI agent Tom Shaw who is determined to prove Jewell is guilty & whose methods may sometimes come off as underhanded. Watson Bryant (Sam Rockwell) is hired as Jewell’s legal defense. Bates is terrific as the mother who is shaken by accusations against her only son. The acting is superb all around as the polarized sides fight to prove their points. Hauser is the key to the film & his performance makes it all work even though a couple of the characters feel exaggerated for the sake of the drama.
Alien gives it 3½ “pipe bomb” stars out of 4.
In Atlanta’s Centennial Park, security guard Richard Jewell (Paul Walter Hauser) discovers a suspicious unattended backpack at the 1996 Olympics. He notifies the bomb squad & begins to clear the area but the package explodes killing 2 & injuring over a 100. Jewell becomes an instant hero until 3 days later, a newspaper article identifies him as a suspect because he fits the FBI’s criminal profile. He & his mom (Kathy Bates) become harassed by the FBI & he becomes unjustly vilified by media. Director Clint Eastwood has masterfully crafted an emotional film based on true events with possibly some literary license to create dramatic tension. Jewell is characterized as an overzealous wannabe cop who may not be not be the brightest bulb but he is a by the book kind of guy. Olivia Wilde plays the overly ambitious do anything to break the story newspaper reporter Kathy Skruggs. Jon Hamm is the lead FBI agent Tom Shaw who is determined to prove Jewell is guilty & whose methods may sometimes come off as underhanded. Watson Bryant (Sam Rockwell) is hired as Jewell’s legal defense. Bates is terrific as the mother who is shaken by accusations against her only son. The acting is superb all around as the polarized sides fight to prove their points. Hauser is the key to the film & his performance makes it all work even though a couple of the characters feel exaggerated for the sake of the drama.
Alien gives it 3½ “pipe bomb” stars out of 4.
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