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Spotlight

Spotlight

2015
Drama, Suspense/Thriller
2h 9m
The true story of how the Boston Globe uncovered the massive scandal of child molestation and cover-up within the local Catholic Archdiocese, shaking the entire Catholic Church to its core. (imdb)

Directed by:

Thomas McCarthy

Screenwriter:

Thomas McCarthy, Josh Singer

Starring:

Len Cariou, Billy Crudup, Michael Keaton, Stanley Tucci, Mark Ruffalo, Richard Jenkins, Jamey Sheridan, Liev Schreiber, Rachel McAdams, Paul Guilfoyle, Martin Roach, Brian d'Arcy James

Genres:

Drama, Suspense/Thriller, History, Biography

Country:

USA

Language:

English
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Spotlight

2015
Drama, Suspense/Thriller
2h 9m
Your probable score
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 66.01% from 4776 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

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alex_watkinsAlex Watkins
Rated 03 Dec 2015
4
70th
You know your journalism movie has done its job right when the sight of mail trucks shipping off in the morning with a fresh stack of papers is a stirring climax.
Rated 03 Dec 2015
billyshearsBillyShears
Rated 09 Dec 2015
75
65th
Consumer report: There is no Nick Fury post-credit scene. Ruffalo is horrendous. "The Catholic Church just got a whole lot sexier"
Rated 09 Dec 2015
barthalenBarthalen
Rated 26 Apr 2016
70
55th
Does its thing, competently, then 130 minutes later it has finished up, competently. Work(wo)manlike, but lacking a spark of anything special. Maybe I would've appreciated this more as a documentary, but I guess then the studio would've missed all those FamousActorDollars in revenue.
Rated 26 Apr 2016
fredericg54frederic_g54
Rated 05 Feb 2016
5
20th
Did I seriously spend 2 hours watching a bunch of sleep deprived journalists engage in a litany of plodding interviews, stilted phone calls and interchangeable conversations, only for it to end on the most contrived of notes? Thoroughly underwhelming, not to mention, utterly devoid of style; unless the decision to turn the camera ON can be called a style.
Rated 05 Feb 2016
groovysoulsGroovy_Souls
Rated 03 Dec 2015
90
90th
Absolutely fantastic. In execution, it is definitely the best produced film I have seen this year. A cast worthy of every award, but most importantly Ruffalo's performance, acting in a great script. The only issue I had with the film was the lack of great direction, but McCarthy did a good job, and it is never bad. Honestly, it's hard-hitting, it's scary, and it's damning. An amazing film; one we may be hearing about in award season.
Rated 03 Dec 2015
frederikaFrederikA
Rated 08 Mar 2016
85
92nd
A good old-fashioned, well-made drama. One that doesn't need to rely on overdramatized or hyperbole narrative gimmicks to deliver a gripping, nuanced and relevant story, which maturely focuses on the systemic problems, rather than the more obvious attack on perverted clergymen. If Mad Max couldn't win Best Picture, I'm glad this one did.
Rated 08 Mar 2016
vengefulkbmVengefulKBM
Rated 09 Dec 2015
85
85th
VERY good movie. It was a little slower than I felt it needed to be in the beginning, but once they start investigating (which doesn't take too long), damn does it get intense. The subject matter (child molestation) might be a little much for some people to handle as the movie doesn't pull ANY punches, but it's better for it. Incredibly well-done on every level, and definitely a serious contender for Best Picture, come February.
Rated 09 Dec 2015
paxtonPaxton
Rated 13 Feb 2019
75
70th
Shines a considerable spotlight on Mark Ruffalo's overacting.
Rated 13 Feb 2019
terrymacterrymac
Rated 06 Sep 2016
81
87th
A tidily-assembled, understated and very effective piece of storytelling. The ensemble cast are great. Grand-standing moments and manufactured drama are kept to a minimum. We suspect and learn about the scope of the terrible crimes at the same pace as the journalists, which keeps us focused and hoping for a positive resolution, as well as generating tension and excitement. Right up there with All The Presidents Men in terms of newsroom procedurals. Great.
Rated 06 Sep 2016
henrikHenrik
Rated 12 Feb 2016
80
81st
McCarthy's somber direction and clever script steers clear of too much schmaltzy pathos (which is quite an accomplishment considering the subject), leaving room for the actors to shine in this suspenseful and intelligent docu-drama.
Rated 12 Feb 2016
jerkyJerky
Rated 08 Feb 2016
50
45th
Just like "All the President's Men" before it, this is as exciting as doing my taxes. This type of "true story" is better suited for a documentary. I love Rachel McAdams...but Best Supporting Actress???? In this? Really? Her over Furiosa?? What film were they watching?
Rated 08 Feb 2016
iconogassediconogassed
Rated 16 Jan 2016
65
45th
Good work by all but Schreiber steals every scene in a reference-level performance of charismatic charismalessness.
Rated 16 Jan 2016
matija_dMatija D
Rated 29 Dec 2015
90
94th
Good old investigative journalism at its best. Fantastic execution. Mark Ruffalo delivers brilliant performance that is balancing from calm man just doing his work to whole other extend of a man who is deeply hit by the power of the story and cannot wait to uncover the horror of it. Psychologically movie hits just the right spot, shows how truly horrifying effects and causes of this problem are, not only for the victims, but for everyone.
Rated 29 Dec 2015
mwgerbmwgerb
Rated 13 Dec 2015
67
81st
Turns the act of writing a newspaper article into a non-stop thrill ride. The stakes feel real, the inertia from the establishment is infuriating, the scandal disgusts as much as it did when it first came out, and the entire cast steps up to the plate with power performances.
Rated 13 Dec 2015
trixrabbiTrixRabbi
Rated 11 Dec 2015
79
64th
People are accusing the story of being uncinematic but so what, it's dramatic and that's what counts. A focused and strongly executed story with a feel for how real journalism is conducted.
Rated 11 Dec 2015
stuie299stuie299
Rated 21 Nov 2015
85
76th
The screenplay is brutally honest, the performances are good, and the cinematography is on point. Still I can't help but think that the direction was a little safe and that more style would have really pushed everything over the top.
Rated 21 Nov 2015
naurunauru
Rated 03 Mar 2016
71
81st
The true story of how Batman, Sabretooth, and the Hulk teamed up to mete out justice to a global pedophile ring commonly known as the Catholic Church. How could this not be a great film?
Rated 03 Mar 2016
wwallce4prezWWallce4prez
Rated 24 Feb 2016
82
80th
Spotlight is a very solid procedural. Stuff happens, and then something else happens, and then there is a phone call, and then there is an interview. Repeat. It does this repeating series of events well and its core performances (especially Schreiber) are great. Still, it is tough for me to get too excited about a film that does what it is suppose to do.
Rated 24 Feb 2016
patmanpatman
Rated 13 Feb 2016
88
98th
A magnificent dramatic thriller that manages to be very captivating and emotional. McCarthy and Singer has graciously written a powerful screenplay with great integrity, while resisting to overdramatize and simplify. Together with numerous of strong performances they have created a detailed and authentic movie that slowly reveals the magnitude of the story, while it honors its real-life heroes like Garabedian who dared to question the authority when no one else did.
Rated 13 Feb 2016
filmseekingfilmseeking
Rated 28 Jan 2016
69
69th
For a movie that's basically about people sitting at desks and researching stuff, it's pretty entertaining. Mostly thanks to the interesting trigger story about the real events.
Rated 28 Jan 2016
deaddillydeaddilly
Rated 06 Jan 2016
55
18th
When I watch a movie about exposing predatory priests, I don't want the most impactful moment to be fucking Mark Ruffalo yelling about publishing.
Rated 06 Jan 2016
aaautinAAAutin
Rated 24 Dec 2015
66
81st
(ALL THE CARDINAL'S MEN --or-- THE PAPAH)
Rated 24 Dec 2015
sellissellis
Rated 29 Nov 2015
80
59th
The kind of movie that feels like you're reading the script. Which is to say - quite uncinematic, but forgivingly so. Solid performances, very subtle script. Keaton, McAdams, Ruffalo, that other dude, Stanley Tucci, John Slattery, what an amazing cast. There's only like 2 showboaty Oscar bait scenes, which is pretty good. But goodness if the piano score wasn't consistently generic and unnecessary. Really sticks to the script and doesn't meander much. Refreshing to see something so un-visceral.
Rated 29 Nov 2015
montycircusMontyCircus
Rated 29 Nov 2015
40
38th
It's official. I'm sick of these fact-based issue dramas. Once again, the post-film scrawl of information was more informative than the 2 hours that preceded it. Was it a bad film? No. I guess what I'm saying is I would MUCH prefer a documentary to this. Replace all of the "will they get the sealed documents??" manufactured drama with knowledge please.
Rated 29 Nov 2015
darrenDarren
Rated 23 Nov 2015
71
57th
Could easily be a doc and be just as effective but I ain't gonna lie when Ruffalo really gets going it's hard not to get wrapped up in his world. Great casting all around. Could use maybe any semblance of style.
Rated 23 Nov 2015
wetwillieswetwillies
Rated 12 Nov 2015
75
26th
Has a few too many scenes where a lawyer says "You know I can't talk about that" for my liking, which is indicative of the film's larger problems - where All the President's Men or Zodiac beautifully visualized the act of journalism, this film is just a bunch of dead-end conversations and shots of people typing things into their computers. It's a compelling story, told with zero style. The type of thing I enjoy while simultaneously knowing that it sorta wastes the possibilities of cinema.
Rated 12 Nov 2015
cameron326cameron326
Rated 20 Mar 2016
65
37th
Decent but dull. Presumably the Academy was unable to distinguish an incredible news story from a great film. If you want to know why the Catholic Church's repsonse to this film was a shrug and "nice film" it's perhaps because the of the dispassionate tone of the film. Maybe "impartial and detatched" style makes for good investigative journalism but not for great filmmaking.
Rated 20 Mar 2016
dunbardunbar
Rated 06 Mar 2016
90
92nd
This feels exactly how this story should be executed as a film. Whether a film was necessary, as opposed to a documentary is an interesting discussion point. However, I enjoyed the experience. I was gripped by the story. The emotions were deftly handled and the scope of the systemic abuse as it unravelled in the eyes of sober investigative journalists was more startling and hard-hitting in my eyes than sinking the story with melodrama.
Rated 06 Mar 2016
ecitizeneCitizen
Rated 29 Feb 2016
70
70th
Great cast. An important true story. This movie is all about the journalism. It spends most of its time following reporters & not enough time exposing the impacts & aftermath of the heinous acts perpetrated by the pedophile priests. Where was God during all this? The cover up by the hypocritical church is also unforgivable. Performances were good. Ruffalo & Keaton were great. Rachel McAdams was gorgeous. Good production quality & music. Worth watching, but a bit dry & rather humorless.
Rated 29 Feb 2016
backwardsuitbackwardsuit
Rated 27 Feb 2016
74
63rd
Fantastically written, expertly crafted and well acted journalism thriller. Exciting and engaging while also socially conscious & focussed on the big picture. It doesn't sacrifice drama or suspense to hammer home some obvious messages & skips all the usual Hollywood histrionics. Enjoyably subtle & realistic but also a doesn't go too heavily into the issues & kinda ends up scratching the surface. Stylistically it's a bit bland as well but but a certain clear-headedness suits this story fine.
Rated 27 Feb 2016
kasperlKasperL
Rated 27 Feb 2016
90
97th
I was completely captivated by this. To me this is one of those films that are so few and far in between. Those that don't, not even once, set a foot wrong. And the ensemble cast... man, that cast! Exceptional.
Rated 27 Feb 2016
dresd_r_e_s_
Rated 24 Feb 2016
4
90th
Simple, but powerful. I freakin' love these investigation movies. Every single cast is awesome. *Very Good
Rated 24 Feb 2016
zspyryzspyry
Rated 20 Feb 2016
7
74th
No bullshit, no melodrama or dumb Hollywood tropes, just an engaging investigative story, told in an objective, clean way. Also: great cast and great acting.
Rated 20 Feb 2016
slrsoapboxSlrSoapbox
Rated 05 Feb 2016
85
86th
It's a very understated movie, and the comparisons to All The President's Men are right on. There are no bombastic dramatic scenes, just a lot of talking and a lot of researching, which is pretty much what investigative journalism really looks like. It's a very immersive and gripping experience watching this film, and it evoked a lot of conflicting emotions in me - I was glad the priests were finally nailed, but oh god, those poor, poor children.
Rated 05 Feb 2016
le_mamile mami
Rated 04 Feb 2016
80
81st
Seriously, this should be the Oscar winner. It's an excellently paced movie with great acting and solid direction. The storytelling was pretty good too with staying away Hollwood cliches.
Rated 04 Feb 2016
syntheseizurSyntheseizur
Rated 31 Jan 2016
81
65th
Despite its low-key feel, moderate pacing, and conventional investigative drama beats, the film is remarkably engaging, fortified by its fantastically understated ensemble performances and a pitch perfect script. The film reveals the role of the press in shaping broader justice through a tightly honed-in story that doesn't cheapen itself with artificial theatrics or shoehorned-in comic relief -- a rarity for the genre. It's simply a pure journalism drama, and it's quite potent.
Rated 31 Jan 2016
aflickeringAFlickering
Rated 29 Jan 2016
2
17th
spent the whole movie feeling like keaton does every time an old friend tries to cajole him into dropping the story: painfully aware of being manipulated toward whichever broad emotion or tidy perspective the writer desired at any given moment. the most interesting thread (the candid old priest) is abandoned in the most hilariously literal way possible. still, while i'll never understand what a rachel mcadams is supposed to accomplish, the performances on the whole totally carry this. schreiber!
Rated 29 Jan 2016
p_u_l_pP u l p
Rated 27 Jan 2016
45
34th
I can't understand what is all the fuss about
Rated 27 Jan 2016
peaceanarchyPeaceAnarchy
Rated 23 Jan 2016
84
77th
Great performances and very good script make this interesting from beginning to end, even if it is a rather flatly shot film with little flair. It's a bit "oscar baity" but it's done very well.
Rated 23 Jan 2016
cinemaasiaCinema_Asia
Rated 22 Jan 2016
70
56th
The subject matter is shocking and certainly deserves accolades for what it exposed. The film itself is pretty standard docu-drama stuff. You have reporters working for the cause running around saving the day. Earnestness spread all around. A few twists until we reach the inevitable true story conclusion. It's not special at all but the acting are all strong points. If you compare this with the pre-existing documentaries on the same subject this becomes very underwhelming.
Rated 22 Jan 2016
ericamblerericambler
Rated 18 Jan 2016
67
36th
This intensely detailed account of how the Boston Globe uncovered sex abuse and systemic cover-ups in the Catholic Church is factual to a fault. Though well-acted, the characters are barely interesting enough to justify its running time, leaving you with a movie that's very much like reading a newspaper.
Rated 18 Jan 2016
foxyrussianFoxyRussian
Rated 31 Dec 2015
97
95th
A gripping and powerful take on a newspaper discovering a scandal. Played as a slow-burn that doesn't attempt to add drama or unnecessary elements into the script. It's tight script, filled with powerful, Oscar worthy performances.
Rated 31 Dec 2015
juntakinte99juntakinte99
Rated 16 Dec 2015
85
73rd
As an inspirational story of dedicated journalists exposing abuse in power & making the world notice, Spotlight could be this generation's All The President's Men. However, like that film it is too one-note. It's more like an oral history reading of what went into the journalism & less like a dramatic film. Still, the story is important & Ruffalo's performance shines through. I just wish it had been as thrilling & angry as something like Michael Mann's The Insider. Recommended. Just be warned.
Rated 16 Dec 2015
doughbarondoughbaron
Rated 10 Dec 2015
84
91st
Fancier direction, editing, and score here would have just distracted from the core attributes that make this film so great; those being the acting and script.
Rated 10 Dec 2015
matthew_parkinsonMatthew Parkinson
Rated 17 Nov 2015
100
99th
A film about journalism that is powerful, shocking, affecting, and fittingly damning against the Catholic Church, Spotlight is one of the best films of 2015 and a tremendous watch. It's entertaining from start to finish - this is how to perfectly pace a movie - offers tremendous insight and revelations into a corrupt system that protects child molesters, and does it all while giving us smart and interesting protagonists, played perfectly by their actors, who are heroic but not infallible heroes.
Rated 17 Nov 2015
xakkmasterXakkMaster
Rated 31 Jan 2017
91
90th
A competently made film elevated by tremendous performances and a tightly written script. I'm a sucker for investigative journalism anyway, but it's an important story and it does the subject justice.
Rated 31 Jan 2017
hofschneiderHofschneider
Rated 27 Apr 2016
85
81st
2nd viewing: boy, was I wrong. What a great movie this is. Mea Culpa!
Rated 27 Apr 2016
icarusIcarus
Rated 02 Apr 2016
75
49th
A blue collar movie about white collar employees who crack open a story about abuses perpetrated by men who wear the clerical collar. McCarthy's direction is workmanlike, nothing flashy. The film appropriately honors the work of the journalists who broke the story, and gives a good picture of the thankless work they did to make the story. I'm not sure the film is as successful in helping us grasp an emotional or personal connection to these journalists.
Rated 02 Apr 2016
sputnik84sputnik84
Rated 23 Mar 2016
87
82nd
This is a movie about assumptions of innocence and fears of being proven right. It is a movie about delaying an intellectual product in order to strike when the iron is hot and produce a result with historical significance. I would call this film historically significant. It slaughters the sacred cow that is the idealized image of ancient religious institutions.
Rated 23 Mar 2016
cagedwisdomcagedwisdom
Rated 19 Mar 2016
100
90th
Absolutely fantastic, half newsroom drama half newsroom thriller. One of the best ensemble casts I've seen in a film and how Mark Ruffalo is not Oscar winning after this I do not know.
Rated 19 Mar 2016
scorpusScorpus
Rated 18 Mar 2016
91
93rd
Spotlight's fantastic portrayal of hugely important journalism makes it a deserving winner of so many awards
Rated 18 Mar 2016
cowmanCowman
Rated 18 Mar 2016
60
28th
A well-made, but also forgettable movie about journalists making some phone calls and checking some records. There is a huge ensemble cast, and like always it consists mostly of bland characters who come and go as they please. Mark Ruffalo stands out, but only because of his terrible fake-accent performance.
Rated 18 Mar 2016
rufamRufam
Rated 04 Mar 2016
65
42nd
Modest almost to the point it transforms into a news report. The subject matter is of course interesting and the writing solid and even though the attempts at giving the 'Spotlight' team independent personalities are kinda clunky -McAdams' grandma subsubplot- the cast (Ruffalo being the slight stand-out) brings it through. It's all very tepid, very respectable, but at least by the end McCarthy has managed to work up just enough tension.
Rated 04 Mar 2016
thereeldealthereeldeal
Rated 01 Mar 2016
85
91st
Spotlight stays true to the nature of its conception by seeking to illuminate rather than sanctify. There's been some sentiment against the movie, claiming that a Catholic molestation ring is now public knowledge. But as the movie makes very clear, knowledge of such a crime is meaningless. Already, people acting like the conspiracy is well-known and thus not necessary to expose are people playing into the hands of the culprits who want nothing more than to have people just accept the reality.
Rated 01 Mar 2016
dardandardan
Rated 01 Mar 2016
70
71st
Considering this won the Oscar I fully expected the protaganists to be 'heroes' and the plot to be melodramatically exploitative of emotion, so it was surprising to see the protaganists flawed morally and imperfect journalistically. The first third builds up a gripping 'closing of the net' atmosphere, but is broken off by in-itself valuable information and a rather poor storyline of Ruffalo, whose character did fit that typical Hollywood bs, harming the authentic feel established prior.
Rated 01 Mar 2016
ozymandius10ozymandius10
Rated 01 Mar 2016
78
69th
I'm probably just very de-sensitized, but the movie didn't have a lot of punch for me. It was very by the book, and outside of some solid performances there wasn't anything worthy of Oscar hype. The subject matter absolutely should've been explored (because it's repulsive), but the movie just feels sterile.
Rated 01 Mar 2016
twincinematwincinema
Rated 16 Feb 2016
75
64th
A good film, but not a good film to have a few drinks and watch. No, my review has nothing to do with the content of the film. Take my review as a warning to not mix alcohol and a film about uncovering decades of sexual abuse from one of the most important establishments in the country. Basically, it's not a fun film. What was I expecting? On a side note, I am not really sure what Ruffalo was trying to do in this film. A lot of his scenes had him hunched over and squinty. Why?
Rated 16 Feb 2016
mattorama12mattorama12
Rated 13 Feb 2016
77
82nd
Good script and excellent look at a great journalism story. And having several scenes between the Tucc and Ruffalo was just great. Nothing fancy in terms of filmmaking, but the story was probably best served by very straight forward direction.
Rated 13 Feb 2016
burkayadaligburkayadalig
Rated 12 Feb 2016
89
85th
One of the most powerful dramas of the year,solid script, great acting and skillful direction
Rated 12 Feb 2016
neonmanNeonman
Rated 12 Feb 2016
67
29th
One of the best TV-movies to be nominated for Best Picture (and the best to win). It's commendable for getting the details of how Spotlight exposed this case, but there's not a lot of meat to this flat, stale film that doesn't do much to encourage more enthusiasm from the viewers for this otherwise very topical and important subject matter. In its defense, I suppose the lifeless cinematography, lulling piano music, and basic editing make this a comfy watch before going to bed.
Rated 12 Feb 2016
caffecaffe
Rated 12 Feb 2016
75
72nd
I love a good journalist movie and this is most certainly that. It's a low key movie which is exactly what it should be, showing to great effect how we sometimes ignore the rotten basis on which our society is built.
Rated 12 Feb 2016
gideonGideon
Rated 07 Feb 2016
2
59th
Mundane is the word to describe Spotlight. I could have easily watched a documentary about the Boston pedophile/catcholic case instead and feel more informed, let alone it would have probably made a better film. For this film, with a very heavy theme, to succeed it needed way more drama and a strong focus on the victims. Spotlight feels more like an enumeration of stale facts, yet fails to move on a dramatic level. Barely decent.
Rated 07 Feb 2016
letskillrobotsletskillrobots
Rated 07 Feb 2016
13
31st
Not as funny as you would think
Rated 07 Feb 2016
moribunnyMoribunny
Rated 06 Feb 2016
48
36th
Plays it safe in too many ways. Meh, it's not terrible, but it's extremely glossy like you'd expect from modern Hollywood or American television. Everybody is beautiful, all the dialogue is contrived and snappy and the plot hurries through a diligently ordered and paced mockup of the events. In other words it belongs to the genre where all is set up in a way that only makes sense onscreen and has very little to do with real-life situations.
Rated 06 Feb 2016
antidood1antidood1
Rated 31 Jan 2016
90
97th
Hits the mesmerizing sweet spot that so few movies seem to find, of being both realistically understated like a documentary and engaging like a drama or even a thriller. The moments that resonate emotionally do so because you believe everything that's happening, and the result is shocking even though I'm convinced the filmmakers aimed neither for shock nor for dramatization. A very compelling story that will stick whether you want it or not.
Rated 31 Jan 2016
lookjabbaLookJabba...
Rated 31 Jan 2016
8
76th
Spotlight is an interesting and thrilling drama based on unbelievable true events. As an overall piece of filmmaking the direction is serviceable and the horrific content feels somewhat restrained. And the experience somewhat lacks those shocking killer blows that could have really unsettled & got under the skin. But the investigative journalism is certainly entertaining & perfectly executed. And Keaton, Screiber & Tucci all give solid performances but Ruffalo in particular is the standout.
Rated 31 Jan 2016
blocpartyblocparty
Rated 31 Jan 2016
90
89th
Well orchestrated story and acting!
Rated 31 Jan 2016
lightning17Lightning17
Rated 30 Jan 2016
80
89th
Slow, but strong, Spotlight has constant rise of emotional engagement, going from mundane to intrigue, to eventually full investment in what the characters are trying to accomplish, which the characters themselves are still discovering. Excellent writing and performances, a solid and real film.
Rated 30 Jan 2016
ippeiIppei
Rated 28 Jan 2016
90
98th
An indication of an intriguing story told right; I was hanging on each word. I get that it won't be for everyone, but this is a very good film. The cast is incredible and their performances are amazingly subtle. I felt that they were able to convey an explosive story like this in a very respectful but effective way.
Rated 28 Jan 2016
mspraguemsprague
Rated 25 Jan 2016
85
91st
Pretty much excellent from start to end. Superb cast.
Rated 25 Jan 2016
filliganFilligan
Rated 17 Jan 2016
89
75th
Thomas McCarthy's direction is the only weak note in this otherwise superbly produced and acted film, but that's not to say even his work is bad. He maintains focus, gets excellent performances out of all the players, and ensures special attention is gathered when necessary. Keaton, coming off the heels of his outlandish comeback last year, is beautifully restrained and impeccable, and the rest of the cast knock it out of the park as well -- particularly Ruffalo.
Rated 17 Jan 2016
qwershadyqwershady
Rated 10 Jan 2016
78
75th
Holly SHİT! HOW THE FUCK İS THİS A REAL STORY. WHAT A FUCKED UP WORLD WE LİVİNG İN. religion is the mother of all evil things
Rated 10 Jan 2016
bakcheiabakcheia
Rated 30 Dec 2015
78
65th
I become conflicted when viewing Oscar-bait movies like Spotlight that are incredibly well-acted, but are otherwise composed of serviceable filmmaking and lukewarm directing. Spotlight is a film that is driven by the chops of its acting ensemble, and the film abounds with subtle, potent performances. However, the film leaves a lot to be desired in terms everything else, like: visuals, story, editing etc. The problem with Spotlight is that it's content with adequacy, and never seeks greatness.
Rated 30 Dec 2015
omgfridgeomgfridge
Rated 29 Dec 2015
3
26th
Tight interesting screenplay with a solid ensemble cast keeps the story flowing constantly. Not all that great to look at style wise and for me, it just lacks that killer scene or oh my gosh moment. On reflection I think I would get the same amount of satisfaction reading the wikipedia article.
Rated 29 Dec 2015
superargoSuperargo
Rated 28 Dec 2015
78
80th
A smart, angry, crackerjack, often very satisfying Lumet-esque drama about journalists working hard and hustling and doing their jobs and exposing bad people. Well-made to a fault and passionate as hell about its subject matter, even if it keeps us at arm's length a little bit. Highly recommended, though.
Rated 28 Dec 2015
yoohooyoohoo
Rated 22 Dec 2015
85
82nd
A very well-done film telling the story of the journalistic process. Despite having very little suspense, unlike other films of this style, the acting, directing, and story were able to keep my thoroughly engaged.
Rated 22 Dec 2015
timmotimmo
Rated 07 Dec 2015
80
44th
A very well-made movie that's probably most effective for (a) Catholics, (b) lapsed Catholics, (c) journalism students, and (d) Bostonians. For me, it was solid, but superficial. It seems like McCarthy made a choice to cut back on the topic's darkness in order to reach a broader audience. That's fine (even good, because it will help more people see it), but weakens it substantially.
Rated 07 Dec 2015
sirstuckeySirStuckey
Rated 07 Dec 2015
85
87th
Fantastic movie. It doesn't look like anything special and the story is known in a broad sense, but it's still compelling and enjoyable. The acting is top notch, as you would expect with the names involved, and they didn't try to overdue some ridiculous sounding Boston accents that would distract. The script is pretty awesome, mostly because it's unflowery and straight to the point without a shit load of scenes begging to get the actors nominated for awards.
Rated 07 Dec 2015
cowfrappecowfrappe
Rated 27 Nov 2015
82
91st
Impeccable film-making and a stellar ensemble elevates this behind-the-scenes film to the top of its genre.
Rated 27 Nov 2015
xacviantxacviant
Rated 24 Nov 2015
79
48th
In 2001, the Spotlight investigative team discovers the extent to which the Catholic Church in Boston went to cover up the sexual abuse of children by priests. It's hard not to think of ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN in comparison, but even on its own terms, it's good but rarely great, a few vividly poignant moments let down by Tom McCarthy's unremarkable direction, variable acting (Mark Ruffalo is disappointingly self-conscious), and an overall lack of character. Still, it's a story worth telling.
Rated 24 Nov 2015
pluggedinPluggedIN
Rated 24 Nov 2015
40
35th
But maybe that skepticism is good. Even wise. The Bible itself shows us many a fallen leader, many a hypocrite. None of those wayward souls diminished the Light that is Christ. And if we are honest, we will realize that what we see in Spotlight is a mess of humanity's making, not God's. (pluggedin.com)
Rated 24 Nov 2015
randallodimRandallODim
Rated 23 Nov 2015
85
77th
Mark Ruffalo's haircut. That's all.
Rated 23 Nov 2015
nobambanobamba
Rated 13 Jul 2021
85
92nd
I watched The Post (2017) first and that pales in comparison. All star cast. Nerdy newspaper stuff. Tons of pounding the pavement to chase a story. Vast conspiracy to unveil. Pressing deadline. It was a breath of fresh air to see a supportive boss even if he didn't fit into the culture or a typical friendly boss. Overall the acting was great too, with many physical traits displayed. McAdams is leaning while Ruffalo scrunches. Fav scene: Ruffalo butting heads with Keaton about when to publish.
Rated 13 Jul 2021
madmanMadMan
Rated 22 Feb 2021
96
90th
Captivating, infuriating and highly engaging. I think journalism movies are my kind of drama. Also the Catholic Church can go fuck itself.
Rated 22 Feb 2021
ytadelYtadel
Rated 11 Dec 2019
4
44th
A competently written and acted and I assume fairly accurate snoozer that is mostly just uncinematic depictions of people having conversations in rooms. Best Picture 2015 ayyy lmao sure whatever you say Oscars. Doesn’t appear to have much cultural impact in terms of people’s perceptions of Catholicism because every time I see Catholicism on Twitter or whatever it’s people swooning over some surface level “woke” thing the Pope said.
Rated 11 Dec 2019
cosmicmonkeyCosmicMonkey
Rated 22 Jul 2018
88
91st
Hard to find much to fault in this. A solid, old-fashioned procedural, with a stellar script, cast. While I echo the arguments that the directorial style is a bit bland, it also much more than just being serviceable, with enough attention to detail for the procedural to play out in a a fascinating way, and enough compassion to do justice to the difficult subject matter.
Rated 22 Jul 2018
davidblastDavidBlast
Rated 04 Jan 2018
60
53rd
Important case, but the movie is too run of the mill of a detective story to leave the emotional impact that perhaps it should.
Rated 04 Jan 2018
timecapsuleTimeCapsule
Rated 12 Feb 2017
85
89th
A sensible drama about investigative journalism. Featuring a great cast of players, this story about the slow discovery that a team of journalist makes reveals the massive scale and depth of child abuse and its cover-up throughout the local Catholic institutions and the church as a whole. Effective narrative feature for a documentary type story.
Rated 12 Feb 2017
ptravers2ptravers2
Rated 08 Jan 2017
8
98th
At times, it's hard not to choke up, but Spotlight refuses to wallow in nostalgia. This landmark film takes a clear-eyed look at the digital future and honors the one constant that journalism needs to stay alive and relevant: a fighting spirit.
Rated 08 Jan 2017
yiannosYiannos
Rated 01 Aug 2016
55
37th
Spotlight has been praised for its subtlety, its restraint, its lack of flamboyance, but these virtues seem almost accidental; the result of a low key unambitious approach to film making generally favoured by the director. It's perhaps instructive to compare it to All The Presidents Men, another procedural involving investigative journalists uncovering a vast conspiracy. Spotlight plays like a HBO film in comparison. While it isn't the worst best picture winner, it could be the dullest.
Rated 01 Aug 2016
kgbelliveaukgbelliveau
Rated 29 Jul 2016
97
95th
A slow burning drama that uncovers the shocking truth behind one of the worlds biggest scandals. Spotlight goes after those who did horrible things and does not hold back on it. Ruffalo and Keaton are the stand outs from the cast. There are very few positive moments in this film which make it hard to take in. It no doubt deserves the best picture win it received because it is one of the best all around films I have ever witnessed. I am overcome with sadness to know this happens in our world.
Rated 29 Jul 2016
nathan_sNathan S
Rated 29 Jun 2016
4
74th
Not at all an anti-Catholic indictment, nor a morality piece about institutional corruption, but an ode to the power of investigative journalism, and perhaps a lament for its diminishing influence in the 21st century's flood of media outlets. It is also, as it seems most films set in this city are, very specifically about Bostonian identity. Solid script and performances.
Rated 29 Jun 2016
rafael_reisRafael Reis
Rated 28 May 2016
94
84th
The rawness of the movie is in some way a form of respect towards the victims. This isn't entertainment, but neither is it a documentary. The movie stands in the border between both - and does so impecably.
Rated 28 May 2016
caimancaiman
Rated 17 May 2016
66
30th
A very un-cinematic piece of cinema, this seems better suited for a novel than a film. The actors were all just *there*, with none standing out as especially good in their roles. The story itself is compelling, but it's not given enough emotional weight to carry the film by itself. It isn't a bad movie, but it's one of the weakest Best Picture winners I've seen.
Rated 17 May 2016
ryan_luedersRyan Lueders
Rated 11 May 2016
81
60th
I have doubts! Oh wait, this isn't Doubt... but it's has that same kind of feeling. Spotlight is about a team of investigative reporters (called Spotlight of course!) that spend months working on just one story. The story this time is about molestation in the Catholic Church. You follow all the clues and half-truths and the movie actually is pretty engrossing. I always get nervous watching a Best Picture movie, because my taste in movies doesn't really line up with the academy...
Rated 11 May 2016
darkcloudDarkCloud
Rated 23 Apr 2016
95
94th
Excellent! Perfection to the nth degree. Mark Ruffalo delivers an awe inspiring performance.
Rated 23 Apr 2016
cstewart64CStewart64
Rated 20 Apr 2016
10
36th
W3E1P1S1V1M1A1R1. A movie I really enjoyed that also has some real depth to it, held back because of the obvious sense that that's what you're SUPPOSED to think about this movie. Doesn't leave much to the imagination.
Rated 20 Apr 2016
andreasthauAndreasThau
Rated 09 Apr 2016
70
59th
Definitely a good film with solid acting, etc. But is it much more? I'm not convinced.
Rated 09 Apr 2016
hellboy76hellboy76
Rated 08 Apr 2016
72
86th
The polar opposites of Ruffalo and Keaton play very well here, and are the real key to selling this film. Its a slow burn at times but the total package is very good.
Rated 08 Apr 2016
jnsonejijnsoneji
Rated 01 Apr 2016
90
59th
Movie theme was bit serious and terrible but how it was handled was very good. The topic, issues in Church were very well described. Very catchy.
Rated 01 Apr 2016

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