Spotlight

“They say it’s just physical abuse but it’s more than that, this was spiritual abuse. You know why I went along with everything? Because priests, are supposed to be the good guys.”  This quote from Peter Canellos is a deeply compelling statement that sums up the devastating toll sexual abuse by priests had on his life.  This is the main focus of Spotlight.  Spotlight is one of those really rare films that takes a challenging subject and not only teaches audiences of its effects but invites people to really ask fundamental questions about how large an influence religion has on our lives. The film stars Michael Keaton as Walter Robinson, editor of an investigative team at the Boston Globe.  The team is given an assignment by their new editor-in-chief Marty Barton.  The new assignment is to investigate into the sexual abuse cases inside the Catholic Church.  This is a difficult task considering a large portion of the population in Boston is Catholic.  What follows is an intense and thrilling investigation into the abuse and the cover up executed by the Catholic Church.

The strongest thing about this film is the performances.  Keaton does some of the best work I’ve seen from him since Birdman last year.  He is nurturing yet stern and specific about what he wants because he believes these people deserve justice.  Another standout is Mark Ruffalo as a member of the investigative team who is passionate about the idea of knocking down the Catholic Church because he believes the information has gone unreported.  Ruffalo is supposed to represent the audience in that we are learning information when he is and the result of the fact finding journey is devastating and powerful.

The story for this film has a very clear arc which makes the film easy to follow and compelling at all times.  The film moves along at a steady pace and the direction by Tom McCarthy is restrained and simple.  McCarthy wisely decides that simple direction with this picture allows the story to not only tell itself but unfold naturally.  All of the evidence of any abuse that occurred is literally in the face of the audience.  McCarthy along with the actor’s understands the vital importance of the viewer come to their own conclusions about the scandal that occurred without placing blame in any specific direction.

The scenes that give the film and the story its weight are the scenes where victims of the assault and abuse are interviewed.  The victims paint a vivid and detailed portrait of how they were cajoled and groomed before they were assaulted.  Perhaps one of  the most poignant statements in the film comes from one of survivors of abuse Paul Saviano.  He says “When you’re a poor kid from a poor family and when a priest pays attention to you, it’s a big deal. How do you say ‘no’ to God?”  Phil Saviano explains a bit more into why children are a prime target for priests while holding up the photo of a molested boy. “What child, who is yearning for attention, would turn down love from God?”

While I found the Catholic Church’s abuse of power and influence deeply disturbing what bothered me is the church’s willingness and eagerness to cover up the inappropriate behavior of the very parishioners they are supposed to be a savior and guiding light for.  I feel that if there is one negative of the film it is that we don’t spend much time with the Catholic Church to learn how and why they justify such heinous and crudely inappropriate acts.

Aside from the negative stated above I found no fault with this film because it was so well conceived and executed.  It is exceptional filmmaking about a very difficult bit of subject matter and not only does it deserve an audience but also conversations after the film.  Spotlight is an excellent look at how investigative journalism can bring about changes in our society and bring to surface problems in our world.  I pray people give it a chance.