Spotlight

2015 Directed by Tom McCarthy

Break the story. Break the silence.

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.

Mark Ruffalo Michael Keaton Rachel McAdams Liev Schreiber John Slattery Stanley Tucci Brian d'Arcy James Gene Amoroso Billy Crudup Maureen Keiller Paul Guilfoyle Len Cariou Neal Huff Michael Cyril Creighton Laurie Heineman Tim Progosh Elena Wohl Doug Murray Sharon McFarlane Jamey Sheridan Robert B. Kennedy Duane Murray Brian Chamberlain Michael Countryman Tim Whalen Brad Borbridge Don Allison Patty Ross Paloma Nuñez Show All…

Alternative Titles

Světelný bod, 스포트라이트

thriller drama history

129 mins More details at IMDb TMDb Report this film

Popular reviews

Review by Evan ★★★★ 6

The same man that made The Cobbler made this. Try to wrap your mind around that. The Cobbler is so Razzie worthy that it hurts, while Spotlight will be sure to win a few Oscars (at least several nominations). These two films were only made a year apart. That has got to be one of the biggest turnarounds in cinematic history. What a great recovery. Thomas McCarthy, you sir have redeemed yourself.
Review by SilentDawn ★★★★ 7

79/100
For a film practically built around its rock-solid cast and its controversial subject matter, I was surprised by the prevalent dedication of Tom McCarthy's Spotlight. It's an ensemble piece that isn't defined by some syrupy addition of heroism or a sanitized narrative, but by a sturdy sense of plotting and a focused array of incredible actors.
At its core, however, is an excellent screenplay that is constructed with the same hardened quest for truth as the journalists who uncovered this horrific scandal. With Howard Shore's methodical soundtrack underscoring every lead and scrap of paper uncovered, the moment-to-moment beauty of Spotlight is from its inherent devotion to the written word and what it can change.
In fact, most of the…
Review by Karsten Runquist ★★★★ 5

The scene where the kids sing Silent Night is just....
so...
good.
Review by davidehrlich ★★★½

a rock-solid, nuts and bolts piece on the disease of corruption and the undying value of journalism. earns comparisons to Zodiac and All the President's Men, but is also more modest and anonymous than either... less sticky. still, builds an immense momentum with its earnestness.
in retrospect, maybe Hebrew school wasn't so bad?
Review by katie ★★★★½ 2

zodiac but without murder
Review by Filmspotting ★★★½ 10

Devoting 25 minutes to SPECTRE instead of this – whom do I confess that sin to?
Review by K. Austin Collins 2

Here is when it all falls apart -- rather, shows itself becoming the film it wants, but doesn't need to be. Marty Baron (Schreiber) has just become the new editor of the Boston Globe. Boston is a Catholic town, rich with institutional history: a robust popular press, a monolithic church. Baron, newly minted as the editor of the biggest newspaper in town and a Jew to boot, must meet with Cardinal Bernard Law, the since-defamed Archbishop of Boston, because these institutions share common ground. They share a public: 53% of the Globe's readers are Catholic (according to Baron.) The news is the Church's business.
It's when Law suggests that this common ground ought to lend itself to a common understanding,…
Review by Mike D'Angelo ★★★½ 1

64/100
The dude I saw on Twitter who pronounced this better than All the President's Men is insane and/or blind, but it does stake out similar ground, structurally if not (at all) formally. There's something immensely satisfying about watching journalists grab a tiny, frayed thread of a story and doggedly trace their way back to the...sweater, I guess, I didn't think this metaphor through when I started the sentence but screw it I'm way behind. Thoroughly enjoyable, but the only aspect of it that wowed me was Liev Schreiber's deliberately off-putting performance; I imagine McCarthy repeatedly telling him "Let's try that again, but give me more absolutely nothing this time."
Review by Eli Hayes ★★★★ 4

Writing so sharp, it'll cut your ears to pieces -- and Shore's score is along the lines of something out of a lost Mogwai LP which is, like, the best thing ever.
Review by suzie fahrenheit tepes ★★★★½

we remembered halfway through that this actually happened and we were just like (laughs nervously) what the fuck?
Review by CinemaClown ★★★★ 6

An extensively researched, skilfully crafted, brilliantly directed, deftly written, tightly edited & outstandingly performed cinema, Spotlight attempts to re-enact the investigation process that led to the uncovering of what became the faith-shattering scandal of the 21st century when it exposed the decades-long history of child molestation incidents within the confinements of the Catholic Church and its continuous cover-up by the Holy institution.
Set in Boston around 2001, Spotlight tells the story of the members of The Boston Globe's titular team which comprises of a small group of journalists whose articles are investigative in nature & popular in public. When their new editor asks them to dig more into the column about a pedophile priest & the allegations that the church was aware of…
Review by Nick Da Silva ★★★★★ 1

Spotlight is one of those movies that does not hit a single wrong note from the opening frame to the end credits. Flawless acting, writing and direction come together so beautifully to create a procedural drama equal parts riveting and emotionally wrenching. As someone who loves movies, it has everything I could possibly want a film to have. As an aspiring journalist, it showcases the importance of a profession where fighting for the truth can be an uphill battle. I will be shocked if I see a movie in the remainder of 2015 that is better than this undisputed masterpiece.

Recent reviews

Review by amazedemon ★★★★

I'm not usually a fan of bio-dramas, but Spotlight succeeds on two accounts. First, stellar performances by a great cast with a great script. None of the actors steal the show (though Ruffalo came close); instead they work well as an ensemble moving the plot as well as decently showcasing investigative journalism. Second, the pace and direction manage to make the mundane consistently interesting, which is no small feat; and the 2 hour runtime passes easily.
Review by Abby Whitman ★★★½

A very important topic, a very slow Oscar Bait film.
Review by Wesley Chao ★★★★

I always like watching Michael Keaton :)
Review by matilDad ★★★★★

another!
Review by SUJIN_ ★★★★

'개인'의 일탈이 아닌, '시스템'의 문제에 주목하여 강력한 현실고발을 해내다.
Review by Bivisyani ★★★★★

One of the most shocking story to ever hit journalism—and we've probably never heard of it. How curious is that? This is a story that defies religion and authority, in search for the truth and justice. An absolutely inspiring journey to uncover one of the world's best-kept secrets, it is truly deserving of all the awards it got—I think it got a lot. I would argue this was Mark Ruffalo's best performance yet, and he's done some good ones, believe me. A standing ovation from me, truly.
Review by JoshEKruse ★★★

Pretty good film. Not much to praise it on though. Everything was done good, but not great. Dialogue took me out of the film quite a bit.
Review by aiyonna ★★★★

as a journalist i am required to watch this yearly
Review by Patrick Skeyhill ★½

Seems like they really went all out on the budget for this two part episode of Law and Order: SVU. Weird that they spent so much time with the reporters though. The cops and lawyers felt like background characters in this one.
Review by Hunter Greene ★★★★

Great story about one of the largest exposé pieces made. So sad and the end just kills.
Review by michael esposito ★★★★½

This film is just brilliantly strong all the way through. The time flies by, but it gives you so much.
Review by Luís Lima ★★★★

Pretty solid, the Hulk guy did an amazing job too!