RICHARD JEWELL REVIEW
Starring: Paul Walter Hauser, Kathy Bates, Sam Rockwell, & Jon Hamm
Directed By: Clint Eastwood (Unforgiven, Million Dollar Baby)
Rated: R
Runtime: 2 hours 10 minues
The 41st directorial effort by Hollywood Icon Clint Eastwood is very simple to understand why an 89-year old and noted conservative might want to make this movie.It’s his chance to point the finger at the media and scream “fake news”.
That being said, he’s absolutely right in this instance.The media and the FBI created a firestorm around the man who found a bomb in Centennial Park during the 1996 Olympic Games.That man was Richard Jewell.An unequivocal hero.Painted as a terrorist by his own Government, his fellow neighbors, and the entire nation.Why?Well…going out in front of a worldwide audience and saying, “We have no leads on this bombing, but enjoy the Olympics” just doesn’t give anyone peace of mind.
But Eastwood’s descriptions of the events paint every single character as black or white, with no shades of grey.Richard Jewell is a white knight, as are his mother and lawyer.The FBI agent is a dope.The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter desperate for the scoop is a villain straight out of a Disney cartoon.Everyone is sort of painted with one brush or the other.
A lot has been made about the portrayal of AJC writer Kathy Scruggs.Played in this movie by Olivia Wilde.People are outraged that in the movie she has sex with an FBI agent in exchange for the name of the suspect.From a filmmaking standpoint, I understand why you’d take that artistic liberty with the plot.It simply speeds everything up.It's a maguffin.Eastwood isn’t calling Scruggs anything derogatory, but it 2019 it can make some people uneasy.
Two points I want to make on that and then I promise I’ll tell if the movie is any good or not.The scene in question isn’t what I thought it was going to be.She flirts with the FBI agent in the bar, and it alludes to the two of them running to a hotel room together.It shows nothing, and implies everything.So in the grand scheme of things I didn’t think it was THAT BAD.My biggest issue with the whole thing is that Eastwood chose to take the artistic liberty with a woman that isn’t alive to defend herself.Kathy Scruggs died of a morphine overdose in 2001.She isn’t around to clarify the specific details of the story and how she obtained Jewell’s name.The shortcut was taken at her expense.Now, Clint didn’t write this film so it isn’t all his fault.I’m rambling and getting off on tangents, we have things to do.
Richard Jewell is a flawed movie with a number of terrific performances.Paul Walter Hauser is a spot on Jewell.His mannerisms, his voice, all pitch perfect.Kathy Bates as Jewell’s mother, Bobi, received a Golden Globe nomination earlier this week and deservedly so.Sam Rockwell is an actor on an unbelievable hot streak right now.He’s done about half a dozen movies in the last two years and is putting out career best work.Including that Oscar win a couple of years ago.Jon Hamm plays a fictional FBI character and he’s perfect at this job.The character is dead serious at times, and hysterically funny at others.Hamm’s your guy for that.The only character I didn’t like was Olivia Wilde’s Kathy Scruggs.The character is written as a vapid drunk who just wants her name in the paper regardless of facts.It’s cartoony compared to the serious work everyone else is putting in.Her introduction in the film is honestly jarring the tone is so different than everyone else.
I remember this story.I love the story of Richard Jewell.It is an American tragedy.I was 11 when this happened, and I was hooked on the story.Every single day, looking for updates. I could walk down the street and ask 10 people about Richard Jewell.Most would know him as the Olympic Bomber.A sizeable group would be able to tell you that he didn’t do it.But even fewer would be able to tell you who actually planted that bomb in Centennial Park.A sobering conviction of today’s media.The allegation is always louder than the correction.Richard Jewell died in 2007 at the age of 44.Two years after police found the real bomber.
I found Richard Jewell to be the best Clint Eastwood film since his Flags of Our Fathers/Letters from Iwo Jima double feature.Most every film directed by the legend is about a common man who does uncommon things.Richard Jewell is no different.It’s a reminder of the power people hold and how they should be more precise in how they yield it.
On a scale of “See It/Stream It/Skip It” – See It – I really enjoyed the film.I knew virtually every step going in, but still found it be captivating to watch.
If you liked any 30 for 30 film, Sully, or The Hurricane you might enjoy Richard Jewell.
3.5 out 5 stars for Richard Jewell.This is an American tragedy no matter how flawed the story telling may be.Terrific performances abound in this cautionary tale.