Richard Jewell – A Movie Review

Based on a true story, Richard Jewell tells the story of security guard Richard Jewell who likely saved many lives from an exploding bomb at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, but is vilified by journalists and the press who falsely reported that he was a terrorist.

Director: Clint Eastwood

Writers: Marie Brenner (magazine article), Billy Ray (screenplay)

Stars: Paul Walter Hauser, Sam Rockwell, Brandon Stanley, Charles Green, Olivia Wilde, Mike Pniewski, Jon Hamm, Ian Gomez, Nina Arianda, Kathy Bates, Grant Roberts

MPAA Rating: R; Release Date: Dec. 13, 2019; Run Time: 131 minutes; Genres: Biography, Crime, Drama

Me and Lay watched this at AMC Westshore Plaza Saturday, January 4, 2019. The theater wasn’t packed, but there was a decent crowd. I’d estimate the theater was about 40% full.

I also need to get this out of the way, I’m not a Clint Eastwood fan. When I was a kid, I watched a lot of his movies, they were OK for what they were, but as I think back on them, he was pretty much a one-dimensional actor, and I most certainly do not like his politics. With all that said, he’s directed some great movies, and this is one of them.

It is based on the story of an Atlanta man working as a security guard during the Olympics held in Atlanta. The opening act is especially interesting. Richard Jewell (Paul Walter Hauser) is a supply clerk at a law firm who dreams of someday working in law enforcement. He becomes friendly with Watson Bryant (Sam Rockwell), the only attorney at the office who doesn’t talk down to him, leaving Snickers for him in his desk and playing arcade games with him on breaks. Eventually, Richard takes another job and says a friendly goodbye to Watson who shows up later as his attorney. That becomes an incredibly interesting relationship as both Jewell and Bryant try to find their place in the bigger story.

First, the acting in this movie is outstanding from everybody. Everybody was giving it their all in this movie. Paul Walter Hauser was incredible as the title character and as I said, in the beginning, I know nothing about what happened, but he seemed to be acting like how I would picture him acting. His chemistry with Sam Rockwell, who plays his attorney/friend Watson Bryant, was unbelievable. There are so many scenes that showcase it but there’s one scene at the end of this movie that drives it home how great of friends they were.

Kathy Bates, who plays Richard’s mother Bobi Jewell, deserves an award for her performance because she was giving it her all in this role. Honestly, this movie was such an emotional ride to go on because the entire time you just want to go up and slap the FBI Agents and the main reporter. This movie concentrates on Richard Jewell’s side of the story and not many movies do that and I’m happy that this movie did that because people need to see what he was going through.

Despite knowing the story and the ultimate outcome, Eastwood and the screenwriters did a great job of building and maintaining suspense throughout the story. Again, even knowing the story, at a few points you kind of wonder.

It was worth the money, and I give it an 8. Let us know how you rate it?

(1 votes, average: 8.00 out of 10)

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