Oscar Optimization – Spotlight (2015) – Encore Review

Since it’s been nearly two months since I watched most of the Oscar Nominated movies, I decided to rewatch many of them and reevaluate my thoughts on these films.  I am rewatching them in no particular order.  Here are my Optimized thoughts on Spotlight (2015) :

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“We got two stories here: a story about degenerate clergy, and a story about a bunch of lawyers turning child abuse into a cottage industry. Which story do you want us to write? Because we’re writing one of them.” – Walter ‘Robby’ Robinson

Number of Times Seen – 2 (23 Dec 2015 and 24 Feb 2016)

Link to original review – Here

Brief Synopsis – Based on the true story of a team of reporters from the Boston Globe that uncovered one of the biggest cover-ups in US History.

My Take on it – This movie is part of one of my favorite genres and watching it a second time was even more enlightening than the first time because I was privy to information that was purposely left ambiguous for first time viewers.

Having this knowledge for this viewing made me watch out for things that hinted towards this important information and it only enhanced by viewing pleasure.  (Since it’s spoiler -related, I can’t go into specific here, but if you want more details, email me and I’ll let u know).

The story is built around a group instead of an individual and none of the characters take the lead at any point (on purpose) and this gives us such an amazing ensemble feeling that is hard to find in movies now-a-days.  Movies lately want us to follow the main character in his/her quest and in this one, none of the actors fit that definition.  This too I feel is on purpose because they want us not to focus on the individuals but on the story itself which is the real main character here.

And what a character it turns out to be…

The ensemble cast is perfectly cast here and not only do we get to see familiar faces, but lots of familiar faces in those roles.  Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Mark Ruffalo, Liev Shrieber, John Slattery, Stanley Tucci, Brian D’Arcy James, Jamey Sheridan, Billy Crudup, Paul Guilfoyle and Len Cariou are all excellent here.

This is a movie that will be remembered in history as being high on the list of the best films in the genre of Investigative journalism.  Others that are on that list are All The President’s Men (1976),  The Insider (1999), Shattered Glass (2003) and  Citizen Kane (1941) to name a few.

This is one of the best movies of 2015 and although it originally was a front runner for The Best Picture Oscar that no longer seems to be the case.

I believe tho that history will prove that it truly is the best of the 8 nominees this year.

Bottom Line – What an unbelievably engaging story that does its job without the need of only one star to tell it.  The ensemble cast helps us focus on the story and not on “stars” which helps make it even more powerful of a retelling of a true story.  Deserves to be listed among the best movies of the investigative journalism genre of movies. One of the best movies of 2015 by far. Highly Highly Recommended!

MovieRob’s Favorite Trivia – The credits and title cards are set in Miller, the typeface the Boston Globe uses for most headlines and body copy. (From IMDB)

Oscar Best Picture Worthy? – Most definitely. This is my favorite of the 8 because it’s so engaging and memorable.  I truly believe that history will reveal that this is the best of the lot even if it isn’t chosen on Sunday.

Rating – Oscar Worthy (no change from original review)

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