They begin investigating sexual abuse trends from Catholic priests in Boston. They interview a few victims, meet with a few experts and soon what starts as a seemingly small albeit horrific issue turns into a much bigger problem. There could be as many as 87 priests in Boston alone. They see that the roots go deeper than just a few bad seeds. It's a booming psychological phenomenon that spreads from the Vatican to all across the world.
But, like any good mystery, when they start getting closer they are met with more and more obstacles to overcome. They face pushback from the church, uncooperative sources, and run-ins with lawyers. And then there is a terrorist attack on the World Trade Center and the spotlight reporters are pulled to work on 9/11 reports. It takes a long time for them to get the story right because they know if they don't get it ~right then it will just be buried or overlooked.
They deal with this sensitive material with kindness but also straightforwardness. Their interviews are done as any journalist would - to get to the bottom line. In one interview one of them asks "Did you ever think about telling anyone?" He responds, "Like who, a priest?" These are awful, painful stories about people who were taken advantage of and deeply affected. In the end, it gets to the reporters too. There are some striking emotional scenes where they express the unfairness of the situation and the dire need to tell the public what was going on.
Through the tenacity, the long hours, and the brilliance of this team of reporters, one of the biggest scandals was uncovered and released to the public. The last scene is so emotionally overwhelming and yet also wonderfully understated. When the story is released, the phones at Spotlight are ringing off the hook almost exclusively with victims wanting their story to be told and heard. This is important.
It's a film that ranks alongside the gold standard of journalism films, "All the President's Men." It depicts the journalistic process without glamorizing: it's tough work. Those journalists are out on the streets, going door to door, rummaging through old boxes in libraries and courthouses day in and day out. But through their rigorous work, people who were afraid can have a voice. Their story can be told.
It's a movie about a team and a team made this movie. If the Oscars were to give an award for best performance from a group, this movie would deserve it. No one actor stands out, but they all do their job and get the job done. Other performances include Stanley Tucci, John Slattery, and Liev Shreiber. The many supporting acts come together to build this masterpiece.
Perhaps even more credit is due to director Tom McCarthy who didn't glorify the abuse but didn't minimize the damage. He paced it perfectly and created an intense drama even when the audience knows the outcome. This is one of the best - if not the very best - films of the year. 10/10
