Spotlight is highly regarded as one of the best recent films about investigative journalism. Released in 2017 by director Tom McCarthy (Stillwater), the movie tells the true-life story behind the investigation into the child sex abuse by priests that the Catholic Church kept hidden for decades. The team that broke the story was the famed Spotlight team from the Boston Globe, which had won two Pulitzer Prizes in the past (1972 and 1980) before winning a third for this specific investigation in 2003.
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The movie has an all-star cast, including Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, and Rachel McAdams. It also presented huge moments both in the investigative journalism portion of the story and a look at the dark underbelly of the Catholic Church’s long-standing commitment to keeping these secrets buried. This helps Spotlight find comparisons with some of the best investigative journalism movies in cinema history, as well as some other instances where the Catholic Church’s secrets were unveiled.
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20
Capote (2005)
Truman Capote Writes His True-Crime Masterpiece
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Capote
R
Biography
Crime
Documentary
Drama
Release Date
September 30, 2005
Runtime
110 minutes
Director
Bennett Miller
Cast
-
Allie Mickelson
-
Kelci Stephenson
-
Philip Seymour Hoffman
-
Craig Archibald
New York novelist Truman Capote reads about the murder of a Kansas family and decides to write a book about it. Accompanied by Harper Lee, his childhood friend, Capote travels to the scene. The murderers are soon captured and, while visiting them in prison, Capote ends up getting close to one of the criminals who is on death row.
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Truman Capote is not a journalistic writer. However, his exploration of a famous murder case brought him into the world of non-fiction. Phillip Seymour Hoffman stars as Capote, the high-class and flamboyant author who travels to a small town that was the site of a gruesome murder. With his childhood friend Harper Lee (Catherine Keener) by his side, he speaks with the townspeople, investigating the case for the New Yorker magazine while the killers are still on the loose, yet to be identified.
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Spotlight True Story: The Movie’s Real Boston Scandal Explained
Spotlight won the Oscar for Best Picture but how accurate is the film? We look at if its expose of the Catholic Church holds up to the real story,
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The movie is a fascinating look at how Capote blurs the lines between fact and fiction, especially after the killers are arrested. Capote connects with them and turns his article into a full-length novel called In Cold Blood. The movie shows how these investigations can destroy a journalist, as Capote gets so close to the case that it overwhelms him. Like Spotlight, it deals with subject matter that the community would rather not address but cannot escape.
19
Veronica Guerin (2003)
An Irish Reporter Dies Investigating the Drug Trade
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Veronica Guerin
R
Drama
Crime
Thriller
Release Date
July 11, 2003
Runtime
98 minutes
Director
Joel Schumacher
Writers
Carol Doyle
Producers
Chad Oman, Jerry Bruckheimer, Mike Stenson
Cast
See All
-
Cate Blanchett
Veronica Guerin
-
Gerard McSorley
John Gilligan
-
Ciarán Hinds
John Traynor
-
Brenda Fricker
Bernie Guerin
Veronica Guerin is a film depicting the true story of an Irish investigative reporter, played by Cate Blanchett, who courageously exposes the burgeoning drug trade in Dublin. Her relentless pursuit of justice brings her into conflict with dangerous criminals, including drug lord John Gilligan, posing significant personal risks.
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While Tár is easily one of Cate Blanchett’s best movies, Veronica Guerin is an overlooked movie in her career that deserves some attention. Directed by Joel Schumacher, Blanchett stars as the title character in the true story of Guerin’s heroic efforts to expose some of Ireland’s most powerful criminals. Guerin was a crime reporter for an Irish newspaper who started to dive deep into an investigation of the local drug trade as it started to disrupt the working class and children in her town.
Like Spotlight, it is about a journalist following a story no one dared to touch.
However, the deeper she gets, the deadlier the investigation becomes as the high-level crime lords decide it would be better to kill a reporter than allow her to explode their darkest secrets. Like Spotlight, it is about a journalist following a story no one dared to touch. However, this film does not have the satisfying ending that Spotlight offered. Guerin’s story is captivating, and the movie is a powerful portrait of her fight to expose the truth, even if her death is what finally brought about change.
18
Frost/Nixon (2009)
The Interview With A Disgraced President
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Frost/Nixon
R
Biography
Drama
History
Release Date
January 23, 2009
Runtime
122 Minutes
Director
Ron Howard
Writers
Peter Morgan
Cast
See All
-
Frank Langella
Richard Nixon
-
Michael Sheen
David Frost
-
Kevin Bacon
Jack Brennan
-
Sam Rockwell
James Reston Jr.
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When it comes to taking a deep-dive look into the world of journalism, Frost/Nixon is a stellar example. David Frost was a tremendous British journalist, and this film focuses on him and the series of interviews he conducted with disgraced President Richard Nixon. The interviews all took place after Watergate, and therefore, the film is constructed around that, telling the story of what happened while also unpacking things from both sides.
What really makes the film so intense is that it is based on the play of the same name by Peter Morgan, and very much shot like a stage play, with the action all taking place in limited spaces and consisting of nothing more than conversations and negotiations. However, with the steady hand of director Ron Howard, it never loses its potency and is never once boring. It’s a gripping viewing experience and showcases how something as simple as an interview can be incredibly entertaining and dramatic.
17
Concussion (2015)
The Court Case Investigating Athlete’s Concussions
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Concussion
PG-13
Drama
Documentary
7/10
Release Date
November 12, 2015
Runtime
123minutes
Director
Peter Landesman
Writers
Peter Landesman, Jeanne Marie Laskas
Cast
See All
-
Hill Harper
-
Stephen Moyer
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While comparing the Catholic Church to the NFL might seem silly, they can also be a powerful force of opposition when someone tries to address their flaws. Concussion is another true story that stars Will Smith as a pathologist who seeks to bring awareness to brain damage linked to football players. It is a movie that has become more relevant recently and addresses the dark side of a source of entertainment for millions of people.
While Spotlight had newspaper journalists facing insurmountable odds against the Catholic Church, Concussion had an attorney facing insurmountable odds against the National Football League. No, it isn’t as major of an obstacle as the Vatican, but it is a corporation worth billions of dollars that was willing to pay whatever it took to cover up its possible connection with concussions and their role in player struggles later in life.
16
The Big Short (2015)
The Story Behind The American Mortgage Crisis
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The Big Short
r
Drama
7/10
9/10
Release Date
December 23, 2015
Runtime
130minutes
Director
Adam McKay
Writers
Adam McKay, Charles Randolph
Cast
See All
-
Brad Pitt
-
Melissa Leo
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In Spotlight, the team of journalists feels like they are the only people who know about the massive story going on under everyone’s noses when they learn about the sexual abuse allegations. There is a similar feel in Adam McKay’s The Big Short, which deals with the mortgage housing crisis of 2007 and the people who saw it coming. Even with its comedic tone, the movie is a historically accurate tale told interestingly without diminishing the devastation of what happened.
It also features an all-star cast, including Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling, and Brad Pitt. While Spotlight played the story more seriously, the more comedic tones in The Big Short were put in the movie to help explain the intricacies of the entire housing market and what caused it to collapse, making some people very wealthy and destroying others (an example is Margot Robbie as herself in a bubble bath explaining the situation in terms anyone can understand).
15
Doubt (2008)
A Story Of Possible Abuse In The Catholic Church
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Doubt
PG-13
Drama
Documentary
Mystery
Release Date
February 27, 2008
Runtime
104 minutes
Director
John Patrick Shanley
Writers
John Patrick Shanley
Cast
-
Meryl Streep
-
Philip Seymour Hoffman
-
Amy Adams
-
Viola Davis
The principal of a Catholic school questions a priest’s ambiguous relationship with a troubled young student. Despite having no concrete proof that the priest is abusing the boy, she does everything she can.
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In Doubt, Phillip Seymour Hoffman plays the new priest of a Catholic school in the 1950s, while Meryl Streep plays a senior nun whose suspicions of him boil over into an explosive feud. Amy Adams stars as a young nun who is caught in between these two powerful forces, as Sister Aloysius Beauvier believes Father Flynn has sexually assaulted an altar boy, while he denies it with all his being. Like Spotlight, this film touches on the abuses within the Catholic Church, though set in a time when these were even less talked about.
The film keeps the audience guessing the truth of the accusations while the incredibly talented cast delivers powerful performances. Even at the end, when Father Flynn leaves for another position, Sister Beauvier believes his guilt while also saying she has “doubts,” which shows why many of these situations were so hard to pin down, as even those close to the situation never had the proof needed at the time to stop these priests’ actions. Doubt received four Oscar nominations.
14
Shattered Glass (2003)
A Reporter Finds Success By Writing Fake News Stories
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Shattered Glass
PG-13
Drama
Documentary
History
Release Date
November 14, 2003
Runtime
94 minutes
Director
Billy Ray
Writers
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Buzz Bissinger, Billy Ray
Producers
Adam Merims, Craig Baumgarten, Michael Paseornek, Paula Wagner, Tom Cruise, Tom Ortenberg, Tove Christensen
Cast
See All
-
Hayden Christensen
Stephen Glass
-
Peter Sarsgaard
Charles ‘Chuck’ Lane
-
Chloe Sevigny
Caitlin Avey
-
Rosario Dawson
Andy Fox
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Spotlight is very much a film about the brilliance and talent of dedicated journalists. Shattered Glass is another fascinating look inside this world, though one that deals with the darker side of journalism. Hayden Christensen stars in this true story as Stephen Glass, a young reporter who rose through the ranks of Washington journalism while fabricating 27 of the 41 stories he wrote for The New Republic. The film is a thrilling look at the fall of this writer and his colleagues’ efforts to expose him.
While movies like Spotlight show how hard the journalists work to ensure that what they print is the truth and is backed up by facts, Shattered Glass is a movie that shows that not all journalists have this kind of integrity, as much of the world has learned over the last decade of American journalism. The fact that this was based on a true story makes it even more shocking. The Vanity Fair article on which the movie is based was written by H.G. Bissinger, who also wrote the non-fiction book Friday Night Lights.
13
The Social Network (2010)
The Story Of Facebook’s Rise
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The Social Network
PG-13
Drama
8/10
8.7/10
Release Date
October 1, 2010
Runtime
121 minutes
Director
David Fincher
Writers
Ben Mezrich, Aaron Sorkin
Producers
Ceán Chaffin, Dana Brunetti, Kevin Spacey, Scott Rudin
Cast
See All
-
Jesse Eisenberg
Mark Zuckerberg
-
Andrew Garfield
Eduardo Saverin
The Social Network is a film released in 2010, chronicling Harvard undergrad Mark Zuckerberg’s development of Facebook. Set against the backdrop of personal and legal challenges, the story follows Zuckerberg’s journey from creating a social network to becoming one of the youngest billionaires, amidst contentious lawsuits.
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While The Social Network isn’t about journalism in the sense that many of these movies are, it takes a detailed look at the rise of the modern format of social media, specifically Facebook. This platform is a major way in which people consume news nowadays, and seeing how the company was set up is absolutely fascinating as it nails the internet more than most movies. The Social Network features a brilliant ensemble cast, and much like Spotlight, it is incredibly tense throughout.
Jesse Eisenberg stars as Mark Zuckerberg while Andrew Garfield is Eduardo Saverin, the man who created Facebook alongside Zuckerberg, only to end up pushed out. The Social Network received eight Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor (Eisenberg), while winning Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Film Editing, and Best Original Song. The inner politics and issues on various sides of the argument are gripping, to say the least, and this film is all about dialogue and communication.
12
Erin Brockovich (2000)
A Woman Investigates A Power Company Polluting The Water Supply
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Erin Brockovich
R
Biography
Drama
Release Date
March 17, 2000
Runtime
131 Minutes
Director
Steven Soderbergh
Writers
Susannah Grant
Cast
See All
-
Julia Roberts
-
Albert Finney
-
Aaron Eckhart
-
David Brisbin
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Even though the Boston Globe is a powerful entity itself, there is a sense of an underdog story to Spotlight. As these reporters attempt to expose the truth of these heinous crimes, they are met with opposition from powerful people. They are regular journalists who have to face off with the higher powers of the Catholic Church. The fact they told their story was astonishing, considering the roadblocks in front of them. Erin Brockovich has a similar and entertaining David and Goliath story.
The film stars Julia Roberts as a strong-willed single mother named Erin Brockovich, who, while working at a law office, becomes heavily involved in a class-action lawsuit against a power company that is polluting the community’s water supply. It is a fun, inspiring, and thrilling legal drama with a great performance from Roberts. Steven Soderbergh’s movie earned five Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, and Roberts won an Oscar for her performance.
11
State Of Play (2009)
A Reporter Investigates A Congressman Whose Wife Dies
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State of Play
PG-13
Thriller
8/10
Release Date
April 17, 2009
Runtime
127 Minutes
Director
Kevin Macdonald
Writers
Matthew Michael Carnahan, Billy Ray, Tony Gilroy
Cast
See All
-
Russell Crowe
-
Ben Affleck
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While Spotlight keeps things grounded in its telling of this incredible true story, there is a low-key thriller aspect to the film. However, if you’re looking for a film about investigative journalism that embraces the thrills even more, State of Play is an excellent choice. Ben Affleck stars as an up-and-coming congressman whose affair goes public when his mistress dies. The congressman’s friend, a reporter (Russell Crowe), begins digging deeper into her death and finds there is more to this story than meets the eye.
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There is a murder mystery that starts the story, and when more bodies end up falling, McAffrey realizes he is getting close to the truth, which could bring a major political figure down. Spotlight attacking the Catholic Church was an uphill battle, but anytime a reporter is targeting a corrupt politician, things get even harder to break through on, with both the government and the public eye often doing everything they can to protect a criminal holding a position of political power.
10
By The Grace Of God (2019)
A Man Exposes Childhood Sexual Abuse In The Catholic Church
This movie might not have anything to do with journalism, but it does focus heavily on abuse within the world of religion, just as Spotlight does. Unfortunately, this, too, is a true story that focuses on a group who were the victims of such horrible acts as they reveal all. Instead of reporters and journalists, this all starts when a man who was abused as a child steps forward.
This emotional movie goes into great detail to uncover the truth behind the lies, just as Spotlight did- but from a different angle.
By the Grace of God even mentions that the Vatican was aware of the acts and goes into great detail to uncover the truth behind the lies, just as Spotlight did but from a different angle. Seeing the people abused stepping up is even more emotionally draining than seeing journalists uncovering the truth because these are the former kids who had their innocence stolen by a church they were taught to believe in.
9
The Insider (1999)
A Whistleblower Exposes Big Tobacco
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The Insider
R
Drama
Biography
Thriller
Release Date
November 5, 1999
Runtime
157 Minutes
Director
Michael Mann
Writers
Marie Brenner, Eric Roth, Michael Mann
Cast
See All
-
Russell Crowe
-
Al Pacino
-
Christopher Plummer
-
Diane Venora
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While Spotlight focuses on the journalists who investigated the story, the film also powerfully highlights the courage and struggle of the victims who came forward. Michael Mann’s The Insider is another investigative journalism film. However, it centers around the whistleblower who kicks off the story. Russell Crowe plays a research chemist named Dr. Jeffrey Wigand who agrees to appear on 60 Minutes to expose the truth about Big Tobacco.
The thrilling true story also stars Al Pacino as 60 Minutes producer Lowell Bergman and Christopher Plummer as long-time 60 Minutes host Mike Wallace. It is a powerful and intense drama about the power of speaking out. Like Spotlight, it has the big guns and politicians supporting Big Tobacco standing in the way. Unlike Spotlight, CBS gave in slightly to the pressure, whereas the Boston Globe stood behind its reporters. It wasn’t until The New York Times picked up the story that CBS finally had to give in and show the full interview.
8
Zodiac (2007)
Reporters Investigate The Zodiac Killer Case
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Zodiac
R
Crime
Drama
Mystery
Thriller
10/10
13
9.4/10
Release Date
March 2, 2007
Runtime
157 minutes
Director
David Fincher
Writers
James Vanderbilt
Producers
Ceán Chaffin, Mike Medavoy, Arnold Messer, Bradley J. Fischer
Cast
See All
-
Jake Gyllenhaal
Robert Graysmith
-
Mark Ruffalo
David Toschi
Zodiac is a crime thriller directed by David Fincher, detailing the true story of the unsolved Zodiac Killer case. Centered on journalist Paul Avery, detective David Toschi, and cartoonist Robert Graysmith, the narrative follows their intersecting paths as they attempt to uncover the identity of the elusive murderer.
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The tireless work of the characters in Spotlight is also reflected in David Fincher’s thriller masterpiece Zodiac. The film explores the infamous Zodiac killings by focusing on the police and reporters who spent years investigating the still-unsolved murders. Though the scenes of the killings are hauntingly recreated, the film spends most of its time on the investigation. It is a meticulous true-crime story, making for one of the most historically accurate movies that presents a mountain of evidence.
The film suggests interesting conclusions yet still leaves that sense of mystery. This is, of course, because the Zodiac Killer case was never solved and remains a cold case to this day, with the identity of the killer still a mystery. However, the comparison is still apt, and while Robert Graysmith and Paul Avery never really discovered the killer’s identity, they pushed as hard as they could to crack this story.
7
BlacKkKlansman (2018)
A Black Detective Tries To Bring Down The Ku Klux Klan
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BlacKkKlansman
14+
Biography
Comedy
Crime
Drama
7/10
8/10
Release Date
August 9, 2018
Runtime
134minutes
Director
Spike Lee
Writers
Charlie Wachtel, David Rabinowitz, Kevin Willmott, Spike Lee, Ron Stallworth
Cast
See All
-
Alec Baldwin
-
John David Washington
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Blackkklansman may not focus on journalists, but it has many similarities to Spotlight that fans of that film will enjoy. It’s just as tense and focuses on a small team working hard to take down a vile group, only in this case, rather than religion, the movie focuses on the Ku Klux Klan. Ron Stallworth becomes the first Black detective in the Colorado Springs Police Department, and he works hard to make an impact, working alongside his Jewish colleague, Philip “Flip” Zimmerman, who ends up going undercover within the racist group itself.
The film is incredibly intense and full of fantastic moments that create an engaging watch from start to finish. This investigation is much like those in Spotlight, but it involves more police work and is the story of going undercover inside a hate group. It also shows in both movies how hard this can be on the people involved with the investigation, as it not only puts them in danger but begins to change their outlook on the world and the things they were raised to believe in.
6
Good Night, And Good Luck. (2005)
The Battle Between Joseph McCarthy & The Media
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Good Night, And Good Luck.
PG
Drama
History
Release Date
October 7, 2005
Runtime
92 minutes
Director
George Clooney
Writers
George Clooney, Grant Heslov
Producers
Ben Cosgrove, Jennifer Fox, Marc Butan, Samuel Hadida, Steven Soderbergh, Todd Wagner, Victor Hadida, Chris Salvaterra, Jeff Skoll
Cast
See All
-
David Strathairn
Edward R. Murrow
-
Patricia Clarkson
Shirley Wershba
-
George Clooney
Fred Friendly
-
Jeff Daniels
Sig Mickelson
Good Night, and Good Luck depicts journalist Edward R. Murrow’s defiant stand against Senator Joseph McCarthy’s anti-communist witch hunts during the early 1950s. Directed by George Clooney and released in 2005, the film explores themes of media responsibility and political scrutiny through a historical lens.
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This movie is a real throwback with the black-and-white footage and the manner in which the characters all conduct themselves. It creates a really old-school film that is very enjoyable, meanwhile, the content of the film itself is just as interesting. Directed by George Clooney, David Strathairn stars as famed real-life journalist Edward R. Murrow, the CBS legend who hosted See It Now. However, things started to fall apart when he began to stand up against Senator Joseph McCarthy and his anti-communist witch hunt during the Red Scare.
Focusing on how the media went through a tough period in trying to avoid being attacked by the public for telling certain stories, the journalists walk the fine line between the truth and not wanting to land themselves in trouble. It sees certain journalists look to bring down another for bullying and really highlights the inner workings of journalism. This fares well compared with Spotlight, as both movies had journalists wanting to expose the truth from bullies who want to keep it hidden.
5
The Report (2019)
A Government Agent Investigating MIlitary Torture Techniques
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The Report
R
Drama
8/10
Release Date
November 15, 2019
Runtime
118 minutes
Director
Scott Z. Burns
Writers
Scott Z. Burns
Cast
See All
-
Corey Stoll
-
Alexander Chaplin
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Though it does not deal with an investigation in a journalistic sense, The Report feels similar to Spotlight’s true story of exposing a dark truth to the world. Adam Driver stars as a government worker who is assigned to look into the U.S. military’s use of torture of detained prisoners. Much like the Spotlight team trying to get the truth out of the Catholic Church, Daniel J. Jones struggles to get the U.S. military to admit to their illegal and immoral activities that often border on war crimes.
The movie is another exploration of the tireless research and digging that goes into uncovering a truth that many people would prefer to stay hidden. The movie is a taut and engrossing procedural with a great lead performance by Driver. This wasn’t as successful as other investigative movies of its sort, but Annette Bening received high praise and even a Golden Globe nomination for her role as Senator Dianne Feinstein.
4
The Post (2018)
The Newspaper That Published The Pentagon Papers
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The Post
PG-13
Drama
History
8/10
6/10
Release Date
December 22, 2017
Runtime
116minutes
Director
Steven Spielberg
Writers
Liz Hannah, Josh Singer
Cast
See All
-
Alison Brie
-
Matthew Rhys
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Steven Spielberg recruited the immense talents of Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks to tell another true story, which also served as a celebration of skilled and truthful journalism. Set in the 1970s, The Post deals with the Washington Post’s decision to publish the Pentagon Papers, a classified document that revealed the shocking government secrets behind the Vietnam War. Streep is excellent as Kay Graham, the paper’s first female publisher, while Hanks is great as legendary editor Ben Bradlee (whose son appears in Spotlight).
It is a complex and entertaining film that comments on the modern relationship between the government and the press. This is a lot more intense than Spotlight. While the story in Spotlight was about getting the truth released without the Catholic Church seeming concerned about the abuse within its walls, The Post sees a newspaper having to decide on publishing classified documents that many politicians claim would make the publication liable for espionage and try to block the release completely.
3
Dark Waters (2019)
An Attorney Goes After A Company Polluting The Waters
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Dark Waters
Not Yet Rated
Drama
Biography
History
10/10
Release Date
November 22, 2019
Runtime
126 minutes
Director
Todd Haynes
Writers
Matthew Michael Carnahan, Mario Correa, Nathaniel Rich
Cast
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-
Bill Camp
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Louisa Krause
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Many of these movies are David and Goliath stories with people going up against powerful adversaries in the search for justice. It is certainly the case with Spotlight, as the Catholic Church had plenty of influence to throw around, and it is also the case with Dark Waters. Mark Ruffalo stars as a corporate defense attorney who decides to expose the dangerous history of pollution against a chemical company.
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Tim Robbins and Todd Haynes Interview: Dark Waters
We sat down with actor Tim Robbins and director Todd Haynes to discuss their new film, Dark Waters, a true story about corporate crime run amok.
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Directed by Todd Haynes, Dark Waters has attorney Robert Bilott bringing a lawsuit against DuPont. While he is trying to protect the community, which is getting poisoned by the toxic waste dumped into the water, the community also turns on him and his main client, a local who, along with his wife, has cancer because of the pollution. Most of the community is employed by DuPont, and this threatens their livelihood. Both movies are about not giving up when on a seemingly impossible mission to do the right thing.
2
She Said (2022)
Reporters Break The Harvey Weinstein Case
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She Said
R
Drama
History
7/10
Release Date
November 18, 2022
Runtime
129 Minutes
Director
Maria Schrader
Writers
Rebecca Lenkiewicz
Cast
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Carey Mulligan
Megan Twohey
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Zoe Kazan
Jodi Kantor
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For many, the terrible and disturbing crimes covered in Spotlight were still very much in their minds by the time the movie came out. Another film that follows the exposure of a similarly disturbing story looks at much more recent events in history. Released in 2022, She Said stars Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan as the New York Times reporters who broke the story of Harvey Weinstein’s long history of sexual assault in Hollywood.
This was a huge moment that made worldwide front pages. However, for years, it seemed that Weinstein was mostly untouchable despite allegedly sexually assaulting and harassing some big names in Hollywood. However, once Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor finally convinced the first person to step out of the shadows, more followed, and much like Spotlight, all the power in the world couldn’t save Weinstein from the overwhelming evidence stacking up against him.
1
All The President’s Men (1976)
Two Reporters Investigate Watergate
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All the President’s Men
PG
Drama
History
Mystery
Thriller
Release Date
April 9, 1976
Runtime
138 minutes
Director
Alan J. Pakula
Writers
William Goldman
Producers
Walter Coblenz
Cast
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-
Dustin Hoffman
Carl Bernstein
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Robert Redford
Bob Woodward
-
Jack Warden
Harry Rosenfeld
-
Martin Balsam
Howard Simons
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Though Spotlight could challenge the title, many people view All the President’s Men as the quintessential film about investigative journalism — and it’s hard to argue. The film stars Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman as Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, the two Washington Post reporters whose investigations into the Watergate scandal brought down President Richard Nixon. Like Spotlight, this film avoids being too sensational with the real events, trusting that the incredible true story is thrilling enough.
Like Spotlight, this film avoids being too sensational with the real events, trusting that the incredible true story is thrilling enough.
All The President’s Men, while retelling the true story, is still a movie taught in journalism school and the biggest showcase of what investigative journalism means for the world. With the public trust in media at an all-time low, this is a movie that reminds the world of what happens when reporters do things the right way and release their story with facts to back it up, helping change the world for the better. The two leads are outstanding, and the film is a stirring reminder of the power of the press, a perfect film to watch after Spotlight.
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Spotlight
R
Crime
Biography
Drama
8/10
9.8/10
Release Date
November 25, 2015
Runtime
128minutes
Director
Tom McCarthy
Writers
Josh Singer, Tom McCarthy
Cast
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-
John Slattery
-
Rachel McAdams
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Source: https://dinhtienhoang.edu.vn
Category: Entertainment