Spotlight

You are a young boy who comes from a poor, broken home. Of course you would be thrilled that a priest took a special interest in you. But soon, the attention becomes unwelcome. Despite going to the police, the church gives you a bit of money and promises that the accused priest will be moved. That's it, nothing else happens.
It isn't until the Boston Globe gets a new editor, a single Jewish import from Miami, Marty Baron (Liev Schrieber) who wants a special team on the paper, Spotlight, to look into some minor stories about sexual abuse from priests. This is July 2001. Cuts are being made because the internet is already taking over, and though Spotlight didn't pick this story to research, they must investigate nevertheless. The team is formidable: Walter Robinson (Michael Keaton), Michael Rezendes (Mark Ruffalo), Sacha Pfeiffer (Rachel McAdams) and Matt Carroll (Brian James D'Arcy). Each are former Catholics but push their personal feelings aside and start digging up information on how long and how far-reaching the abuse went. The results are disturbing. Even the Cardinal, Law (that's his actual name portrayed in this film by Len Cariou) knew. Baron has petitioned the court to have these documents unsealed. So has a lawyer, the character Mitch Garabedian (Stanley Tucci) who represents many of the abuse victims.
Some victims are more willing to talk than others and then September 11th happens which almost derails their whole story. It is pushed to the side, as something more important has come along, probably not the first time that has been the case. And then, when they finally get back to everything, they must wait until the story is perfect though the records of the Cardinal knowing and covering up the scandal are public, Robby (Keaton) wants to wait. Shouldn't the people know right away? They have a right to know, that's why the documents were unsealed. When the story is finally published, Sacha and Matt arrive at work Sunday morning to answer calls, they are bombarded with more victims of abuse. It is devastating to see how far-reaching the abuse went, covering many countries. The archbishop of Boston would resign, only to get a promotion to Rome. Not cool, guys, not cool.
This film is incredible with real characters, though Ruffalo has a weird sympathy face, and a realistic setting. You feel like you are back in 2001, with the flip cell phones. Certainly, there should be many Oscar nominations coming to this film, with McAdams being a stand-out, having great empathy with the victims. The look on her face when a priest admits that he did molest the boys but got no pleasure from it, justifying his actions is utterly priceless. The passion each of them have for the project is intense.
The abuse effects the victims years after it is over. They drink, turn to drugs and it effects their own relationships. And it hits close to home. For Matt, a priest lives just doors away from him and his family and for Robby, one of his classmates, several years younger than him is a victim. No one is left unscathed.
The paper should have done more to uncover the story years before especially when a lawyer (Billy Crudup), paid hush money by the church, did try to go public. The church shouldn't have covered this up, they should have investigation, fixed the problem by removing the priests and punishing them as though they were the average citizen. That is why you should see this film. You need to know what happened and keep it from ever happening again. Grade: A