Clint Eastwood's Richard Jewell doesn't skirt the issue in telling you exactly how to feel when watching this film. With good performances from an ensemble cast, especially Sam Rockwell, the film may provide some entertainment for those needing a good reason to hate the media.
Disclaimer: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment provided us with a free copy of this Blu-ray/DVD that we reviewed in this blog post. The opinions we share are our own.
“Directed by Clint Eastwood and based on true events, Richard Jewell tells the story of the security guard who discovers a bomb at the 1996 Atlanta Games and takes swift, heroic action, saving countless lives. But in a turn of events, he becomes the FBI’s number one suspect, vilified by the press and public alike. Featuring an all-star ensemble cast, including Sam Rockwell, Kathy Bates, Jon Hamm, Olivia Wilde and Paul Walter Hauser, this is “one of the most intriguing and power movies of the year” (Us Weekly).”
The film opens with Richard Jewell (Paul Walter Hauser) working as a supply room clerk and meeting Watson Bryant (Sam Rockwell), a brash and hot-headed attorney who tells it like it is, and despite their awkward first encounter, takes a liking to Jewell. Their paths part ways early on, but not before Bryant encourages Jewell to do something good with his life. Fast forward several years as the Olympic Games are about to begin, we’re introduced to everyone who is going to be playing a role in the story: reporter Kathy Scruggs (Olivia Wilde) and Special Agent Tom Shaw (Jon Hamm). As the events play out at the Olympic Games, Jewell noticed a suspicious backpack underneath a bench. He quickly jumps into action informing the police and bomb squad, and immediately begins moving people back to a safe distance. Soon after, the bomb explodes and chaos ensues. When the dust settles and investigations underway, Jewell is initially hailed as a hero for his quick actions, however, thanks to a statement from one of Jewell’s former employers who cast doubt on his heroism, he becomes a suspect in the bombing. The media blows the information way out of proportion propelling Jewell into a negative light in which tests the resolve of himself and his family.
The story of Richard Jewell, the man, is a very tragic one, and definitely a lesson to be learned in doing due diligence in reporting facts, as well as a cautionary tale about vilifying an individual without all the facts. Clint Eastwood has an aptitude for telling these types of stories, and although they may not be successful in financial terms, such as The 15:17 to Paris, which also has to do with terrorism, he nevertheless persists on telling the stories he believes are important to be told. Now, while in theory I agree with everything Eastwood is trying to accomplish in Richard Jewell, he doesn’t go about it in a way that is conducive to the audience’s ability to distinguish right from wrong themselves, which makes the story bland and downright insulting at times.
To understand a story of this nature, or any story for that matter, you must look at both sides. Eastwood doesn’t give you that opportunity in Richard Jewell. Instead, you are basically told, right off the bat, to hate the media and Kathy Scruggs especially, with her disgusting, vulgar, and unprofessional attitude that makes her seem overtly cartoonish on screen. Likewise with the FBI. We are only told outlandish theories as to why they are targeting Richard Jewell, shown that the agents are insensitive, hostile and short-tempered, all of them being very unlikeable. We aren’t shown what connections there might be, the reasoning behind keeping an open mind about an investigation and trusting profiles that have become a successful tool in criminal psychology leading to the arrest of countless guilty people. No, Eastwood provides us with an infallible protagonist who goes out of his way to give water to pregnant women, stock his co-workers drawers full of their favorite candy, and looks at the world in a rose-colored lens that just doesn’t seem conceivably real. Jewell could have easily been this way, but that’s not the point, the audience is manipulated into feeling a certain way about both sides with very little information given about the depth of the story, not trusting them to feel anger for the travesty that has befallen Jewell themselves.
The characters in the story are likewise just as shallow as the story appears to be, with a few exceptions. I’ve always liked Olivia Wilde, but unfortunately not here. I recall her having to defend her character in the film from criticism while the film was in theatres, and I see that criticism isn’t that unfounded. As I mentioned above, her character is so disgusting, nonchalant about her duties as a member of the press and responsibilities to the truth. Although the real Kathy Scruggs had issues in real life that lead to her untimely death, if there was any sense of pride in her work and her life then this performance and portrayal is a severe detriment to this individual, in a way, smearing her name just as Richard Jewell’s was, and in that sense I cannot get on board with any decisions of the film and anything it tries to do, as it is severely hypocritical. While they try to save Jewell’s name from villainy, they in turn vilify others.
Paul Water Hauser does a good job at carrying the film, and although I think the character lacked depth, that wasn’t Hauser’s fault. I look forward to seeing more of him and if he can attain the range that this character should have had, invoking feelings from the audience through his acting. Jon Hamm and Kathy Bates both also give good performances, having a bit more depth than the others, doing what they can with what they’re given. But my favorite, by far, which is the case with most films he’s in, was Sam Rockwell. He elevated the film much more for me than what it would have been with someone else in the role, bringing a charisma and humor that only he could provide.
Video
Richard Jewell is presented in 1080p High Definition Widescreen 2.39:1. The transfer looks exceptional, with no defects noticed. Color balance is good, with a clear and detailed picture. If Clint Eastwood can succeed at anything no matter the story, it’s providing a great looking film that goes along with his stories, and still going at his age, I hope he doesn’t stop. Even in the darker scenes, especially during the concert in which the bomb goes off, the lighting is done so well that detail is so crisp and clear.
Audio
The audio is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. This track sounds great, well balanced between the surrounds and center channel. The majority of the sound will be coming through the center channel in the form of dialogue. Although, there are some good uses of surrounds, especially in the concert sequences, the bombing, and subsequent flashbacks and atmospheric effects.
Special Features
There are a few extras on the disc that provide informative yet brief interviews with the cast and crew. These include:
- The Real Story of Richard Jewell
- The Making of Richard Jewell: A conversation with Clint Eastwood, Sam Rockwell, Kathy Bates, Jon Hamm, Olivia Wilde and more
Clint Eastwood has always been hit or miss with his films over the years, and this one seems like a big miss to me. Although you may find enjoyment from learning about the injustices by the media and federal government, the film doesn’t give the audience the opportunity to discover anything for themselves.
