The Wrong Man Redux

Clint Eastwood is 90 years of age and can still make a better movie than people a third of his age.  Clint is one of the most dependable film story tellers around and, even his mediocre work is immensely watchable.   Indeed, his latest work "Richard Jewell" is more than just watchable.  It is luminous and one of my favorite movies of 2019.  

Of course, Clint is known to lean towards the conservative side of the landscape and is therefore sometimes viewed with skepticism by the liberal clowns that run Hollywood.   In the case of this film, he did get criticized for his depiction of a free wheeling news media  AKA "fake news."  But if you do the research on the true events depicted in this film, you realize that no liberties with the truth were taken.   It's all real and, even though it is set in 1996, "Richard Jewell" somehow validates Donald Trump in 2019.

The real stuff behind "Richard Jewell" is well known.  A security guard present at the bombing that occurred at the Atlanta 1996 Summer Olympics, Jewell did his best to get people away from the suspected explosive device.   But people were killed and injured.   The FBI was quick to show they were on the case and, with the help of an overzealous and sleazy reporter at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, they rapidly come up with a narrative that showed Jewell as the mad bomber.   

Jewell was easily profiled because he was a heavy set schlump who lived at home with Mom.   Plus, in his past as somebody who yearned to be in law enforcement, his eagerness to do so was viewed as a little psychotic.   As a result, Jewell is railroaded even when it becomes apparent that he was not the culprit.

Eastwood tells a story of a simple man whose life spirals out of control for no reason.   It is also a strong indictment against the FBI and the mainstream media.   Yep, that's why Trump probably ran this film in the White House repeatedly.

The audience along for the run starts to feel as helpless as Jewell himself.  Paul Walter Hauser is the actor in the title role and, admittedly, he probably won't get many more roles because of his size and appearance.  Nevertheless, he perfectly echoes Jewell.  The rest of the cast is spot on as well with special kudos to Kathy Bate as Mother Jewell and the always reliable and welcome Sam Rockwell as Richard's legal defense.  I defy you to not get completely wrapped up in this sad state of affairs.

Once again, this story likely doesn't get as much justice in the hands of another director.   But this is Clint Eastwood and we have been lucky to have his Hollywood career available to us all these years.

Run, do not walk to "Richard Jewell."

LEN'S RATING:  Four stars.

Dinner last night:  Teriyaki stir fry vegetables.