Eastwood is a very effective filmmaker, his movies tend to have zero bells and whistles. _Richard Jewell_ is a prime example of that, although it doesn’t have its heart in the right place. The way this film depicts the media and particularly journalists is fucking despicable. I don’t mind that you’re going to vilify or criticize the news media, but then there has to be some substance behind it (or, you have to play it for laughs, so in a tongue in cheek sort of way). It’s abundantly clear, even when you’re watching this, that a lot of this is simplified, and even deceptive. I tend to give movies a pass for taking some licence in order to create a dramatic effect, but that’s not the case here. This movie is consciously dishonest in order to push an agenda, and it’s gross. Having said that, I also can’t deny that the acting is very solid, and the interrogation scenes are pretty well done. The characters are solid, and the movie is tense in the moments where it needs to be. I’m not going to recommend it, but you could also do a lot worse.

4.5/10