‘Spotlight’ – The 60 Second Movie Review

Summary: Spotlight is a journalistic thriller about a team of reporters at the Boston Globe who began pulling at the threads of a sexual abuse case involving a Roman Catholic priest in 2001. They discover the Archdiocese not only had full knowledge of his crimes but those of a further 86 priests who had been abusing the innocent. What emerges is a film not so much about the molestation of children – Spotlight actually steers clear of delving into the lurid details – but the failure of God’s representatives to heed His call to care for those least capable of protecting themselves.

RATED: M for Mature Themes and Coarse Language

AUDIENCE: Not suitable for kids, though you might consider taking mature teens.

WHAT’S GOOD: Excellent acting from Michael Keaton as Walter ‘Robby’ Robinson, the editor who led the investigation, accompanied by fellow reporters Michael Rezendes (Mark Ruffalo) and Sacha Pfeiffer (Rachel McAdams)

WHAT’S NOT: Ruffalo’s character makes all of us victims by claiming the church stole his hope of one day returning to his faith, and provides a ready justification for anyone who chooses to reject God’s call. Yet the truth is it’s easy to hide behind what we might have done if things had been different. Worse, his statement actually abuses an innocent God betrayed by the men who claimed to serve him.

SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING: Spotlight is a sober warning of the power of the truth, and should go a long way to reminding us why the media exist and what they can hope to achieve. However we should be wary of sitting in judgement on those who have their sins revealed. The light that exposes them can too easily expose us as well.

RELEASE DATE: January 28, 2016

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