“Richard Jewell”
This is one of the best yet from 89 year old Clint Eastwood as a director. It’s the story of the hero security guard who was first lauded and then later blamed for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics bombing which killed one and wounding more than 100. Paul Walter Hauser plays the accused security guard and is so pitch-perfect he could easily be nominated for an Oscar for his first starring role. He’s had much smaller parts in “Black KKKlansman” and “I Tonya.” Kathy Bates, as his mom, is also an easy shoo-in for the “Best Supporting” Oscar. Jon Hamm plays the FBI agent in charge of the investigation with Sam Rockwell as Jewell’s lawyer. It’s funny, it’s shocking, it’s upsetting, it’s prescient but there is one flaw. Olivia Wilde plays Kathy Scruggs, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reporter who broke the story of Jewell becoming a suspect in the bombing. The newspaper says there is no evidence that Scruggs had sex with an FBI agent to get the story and Scruggs can’t defend herself- she died in 2001. Despite this controversy this is a fantastic, entertaining movie with awesome performances. It’s one of my favorites of the year.
♥♥♥ ½
“Bombshell”
Ripped from the headlines, this is the story of Fox News creator Roger Ailes who was brought down by a sexual harassment scandal. The best part of this movie is Charlize Theron, who completely morphs into Megyn Kelly. She looks like her twin and even carries herself like Kelly. Nicole Kidman plays Gretchen Carlson with Margot Robbie in a composite role as the hungry-for-fame newest, youngest victim. Kate McKinnon is close to stealing every scene she’s in as Robbie’s work BFF with benefits. John Lithgow plays the late Roger Ailes. For my money, the Showtime mini-series “The Loudest Voice” (with Russel Crowe portraying Ailes) did a better job. This movie version feels like an antiseptic version of the story. BTW, “Bombshell” just got 4 SAG award nominations, including Theron for “Best Actress” and both Robbie & Kidman up for SAG “Supporting Actress.” There’s no SAG nomination for Lithgow while “The Loudest Voice” scored Russell Crowe an Emmy and a Broadcast Film Critics Association nom.
♥♥ ½