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| Left to right: Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford |
Welcome to Alternative to What: a weekly column that tries to find a great alternative to driving to the multiplexes. Based on releases of that week, the selections will either be thematically related or feature recurring cast and crew. The goal is to help you better understand the diversity of cinema and hopefully find you some favorites while saving a few bucks. At worse, this column will save you money. Expect each installment to come out on Fridays, unless specified.
THIS WEEK:
All the President's Men (1976)
- Alternative To -
Spotlight (2015)
With awards season firmly underway, it makes sense to wonder what new releases are going to be the big ones. Which of the films are going to end up taking the world by storm, ending up with the coveted Best Picture nominations. Unlike most years, it's been a little difficult to predict this year's selection, largely because some films have bombed (Steve Jobs), while others haven't quite taken off just yet. There's a need to constantly second guess yourself this year, and it only adds to the excitement. However, there's very few who have argued against the prospects that maybe, just maybe, this year's biggest film will just be Spotlight.
Spotlight is a film that features the controversial uncovering of the Catholic Church sex scandal. For better or worse, it's a "journalism movie." And as such, it's likely to be about the complicated and endless research that constitutes the third act success. For those that think that this sounds like the most boring thing ever, it's likely because the idea of a movie like this working are slim. That is, of course, if you don't actually pay attention to films that have done it very well, mixing mystery with compelling characters. I'm talking about All the President's Men; a story regarding Watergate that most people know, but few people likely care to see a dramatic retelling of.
One of the reasons that that film works is because of the casting. Between Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford, the two make for some of the most charismatic journalists. They make long nights and interviewing in seedy garages seem like a compelling idea. There's a lot in here that may seem like film noir, but it's more than that. It's about characters dealing with American patriotism in the wake of one of the nation's biggest scandals of the time. They were the heroes, forcibly dodging any bullets that might end up coming back to harm them. In a way, they're superhero journalists; finding out how to solve the case with expertise and dedication to the craft.
Spotlight is a film that features the controversial uncovering of the Catholic Church sex scandal. For better or worse, it's a "journalism movie." And as such, it's likely to be about the complicated and endless research that constitutes the third act success. For those that think that this sounds like the most boring thing ever, it's likely because the idea of a movie like this working are slim. That is, of course, if you don't actually pay attention to films that have done it very well, mixing mystery with compelling characters. I'm talking about All the President's Men; a story regarding Watergate that most people know, but few people likely care to see a dramatic retelling of.
One of the reasons that that film works is because of the casting. Between Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford, the two make for some of the most charismatic journalists. They make long nights and interviewing in seedy garages seem like a compelling idea. There's a lot in here that may seem like film noir, but it's more than that. It's about characters dealing with American patriotism in the wake of one of the nation's biggest scandals of the time. They were the heroes, forcibly dodging any bullets that might end up coming back to harm them. In a way, they're superhero journalists; finding out how to solve the case with expertise and dedication to the craft.
It also helps that the general set up is one that's perfect for drama. The aforementioned film noir elements mixed with real world settings creates an experience that involves a great propulsion of history in the making. Every detail lingers into the next, forcing us to see how they discover just what happened at Watergate. Considering how scandalous the events actually were, it makes for something that is engrossing and worthy of theater. Every character has their moment. Every piece of dialogue adds something deeper to the film's overall texture. It's a great journalism film because it shows journalism in motion; slowly reaching the goal of every reporter's dream. They want answers, and they'll stop at nothing to get them.
I am unsure if Spotlight will live up to that film. It's likely that it will be impossible to be thought out without even small comparisons. Even the director has gone on record of being inspired by the film. Of course, it mostly is deserved, because you cannot think of a great journalism movie without thinking of All the President's Men. It's impossible. From the performances to the tightly wound story, it's a work of genius that also makes history seem a lot more interesting than it likely is in textbooks or other forms. Maybe Spotlight will have that similar catharsis. Who knows. It's just great to think that there's a good journalism movie out there.
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