Richard Jewell

Starring: Paul Walter Hauser, Sam Rockwell, Kathy Bates, Jon Hamm, Olivia Wilde, Brandon Stanley
Directed by: Clint Eastwood
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
2019

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A security guard (Paul Walter Hauser) discovers a mysterious package that turns out to be a bomb at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. He is hailed as a hero, but praise quickly turns when the FBI leaks the fact that he's their primary suspect.

Review:

Tim: I went into Richard Jewell with mixed emotions. I know Clint Eastwood is a good director, so there's always the promise of him delivering a solid movie. However, there was something holding me back from being too excited. I don't know, maybe it's watching this in 2020 during a global pandemic and blatant societal disregard for the lives of minorities that has me down, but watching an innocent man being put through hell didn't seem all that appealing. When I sat down to watch Richard Jewell, though, all my resistance to the film melted away. This movie might not quite be great, but it gets incredibly close. Eastwood does it again, directing an entertaining and fascinating look at a unique character in American history.

This movie is absolutely about the man, Richard Jewell, who found himself at the heart of a terrorist plot. As we all know, Jewell saved lives by discovering a bomb during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. The FBI then began investigating him as the primary suspect. When that news leaked to the press, Jewell became the center of a media firestorm as people condemned him. These are the facts and Eastwood clarifies them. However, what makes this movie work is that he treats these characters as human beings. You get to know Jewell, his mother, his lawyer. You get to know the lead FBI agents. The human drama is on full display here and it's remarkable viewing.

The cast is great. I can't say enough about Paul Walter Hauser. It feels like he gives the performance of a lifetime here. He's so good as Jewell- both in the admirable qualities of his character, as well as the troubling ones. I really thought Hauser deserved an Academy Award nomination. I get it, there was a lot of competition, but he's that good. He always treats Richard as a real person- complex, flawed, yes, but he never loses sight of his humanity. It's a stunning performance. Kathy Bates was very good, too. She has a few scenes of just powerhouse acting. That's probably what led to her nomination for Best Supporting Actress, the film's only Academy Award nomination. She deserved it. I actually thought Sam Rockwell could have been nominated as Supporting Actor- his Watson Bryant is perhaps the most memorable aspect of the film. His attitude, the comedic timing, the energy Rockwell brings is just fantastic. Rockwell has long been one of the most underrated actors in Hollywood. That feels weird to say about someone who just won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2018 (for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) but it's true. Not enough people are awed by his talent. They should be. I adored his performance here. He brought brio and charm to the role. Rockwell was easily the most enjoyable part of the movie. Jon Hamm was fine. I like Hamm, but I'm just not convinced he's a great actor. He did his part well here, but his performance pales compared to Hauser, Rockwell, and Bates. I always struggle with Olivia Wilde. I suppose she's talented, but it always feels like I should like her, not that I actually do. She's fine here- I have no complaints about her performance. It's not great, though. Similar to Hamm, she feels like mostly style and not enough substance.

Eastwood's film is so entertaining. He peels back the layers of this odd story and reminds us that truth is often stranger than fiction. At 2 hours, 11 minutes, the movie is long- but it never feels long. Eastwood holds our attention. Richard Jewell might not quite reach greatness, but it's just so wildly entertaining. I had a lot of fun watching this movie. It might not be in the top 10 of 2019, but it's still one of the most effective movies of the year.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



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