RICHARD JEWELL REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Although he's best known for appearing in iconic Westerns such as The Good, The Bad and The Ugly and Dirty Harry, recently, Clint Eastwood has been doing more work behind the camera as a director. Most of his features tell interesting and compelling stories and feature strong performances from its cast. With Richard Jewell, Eastwood brings the true story of its titular character to the big screen.

Richard Jewell is a story of what happens when what is reported as fact obscures the truth. "There is a bomb in Centennial Park. You have thirty minutes." The world is first introduced to Jewell (Paul Walter Hauser) as the security guard who reports finding the device at the 1996 Atlanta bombing-his report making him a hero whose swift actions save countless lives. But within days, the law enforcement wannabe becomes the FBI's number one suspect, vilified by press and public alike, his life ripped apart. Reaching out to independent, anti-establishment attorney Watson Bryant (Sam Rockwell), Jewell staunchly professes his innocence. But Bryant finds he is out of his depth as he fights the combined powers of the FBI, GBI and APD to clear his client's name, while keeping Jewell from trusting the very people trying to destroy him.

While Richard Jewell is far from one of Eastwood's best features, it's still a solid drama that tells the story of an ordinary man who performed an extraordinary heroic act and saved hundreds of lives. Unfortunately, instead of being praised, he is treated as a suspect by the FBI, lead by Tom Shaw (Jon Hamm) and the media with journalist Kathy Scruggs (Olivia Wilde) writing the stories 

Because Richard Jewell takes place in 1996, a year before I was born, I was unfamiliar with this news story and I found it to be an unpredictable watch for most of its 123 minute runtime. I can imagine there will be a lot of people who, like me, don't know who Jewell is or why his story has been made into a film directed by Eastwood. At the time of the events of Richard Jewell, the titular character was an ordinary security guard who was simply doing his job when he discovered a suspicious backpack that had been left unattended at a concert in Centiennial Park and his suspicions are confirmed when an explosives expert discovers that it contains three pipe bombs. Before the bombs go off, the security, including Jewell, are able to clear the area, with hundreds of lives being saved. This quickly becomes a major news story, with the media praising Jewell's actions, unfortunately, the FBI are quick to label him as a suspect and believe he planted the bombs in order to get attention. Because we know that Jewell isn't guilty, we side with him and feel his fear that he may be sent to prison for a crime he didn't commit. He loses his privacy with the FBI invading his privacy and his home. 

In many films, including Spotlight, which won the Best Picture Oscar in 2016, the media has been portrayed in a positive light, however, with Richard Jewell, Eastwood shows another side to the world of journalism. Scruggs is a struggling journalist who quickly reports on Jewell's story, however, she sides with the FBI and portrays him as a suspect. This proves that not every story you hear about on the news or read about in the newspapers is true as Scruggs is more interested in making money instead of getting to know the truth and whether or not Jewell is actually guilty. The obsession from the FBI and media has an impact on Jewell who can't even leave his house without being harassed by a group of journalists. 

Like most of Eastwood's films, Richard Jewell features a cast of talented actors who all deliver solid portrayals of their characters, with Rockwell and Kathy Bates standing out as Jewell's attorney, Bryant, and his mother, Bobi, with the latter earning a Best Supporting Actress nomination at this year's Academy Awards. Her best scene takes place towards the end when she delivers a moving speech about her son. However, it's Hauser who impresses the most with his sympathetic portrayal of the titular character. The actor has made small appearances in I, Tonya, BlacKkKlansman and Late Night, however, his portrayal of Jewell proves that he's capable of handling a leading role. When the project was first announced in early 2014, producers Leonardo DiCaprio and Jonah Hill were attached to star, with the latter portraying Jewell, While I think both are talented actors, I don't think either would've been right to portray the characters as they're too well known. Because Hauser isn't well known, his performance of Jewell is convincing.

Judging by the trailer, you'd be understood for thinking that Richard Jewell was a serious drama, which it is, however, Eastwood includes moments of comic relief, including Bryant's many digs at Agent Shaw. Jewell's social awkwardness makes for some funny scenes, including when the FBI search his home and he is a little too honest and helpful to them, despite Bryant telling him not to speak.

I found Richard Jewell to be similar to Just Mercy as both films focused on an innocent individual who is accused of being a suspect or guilty of a crime. While I think the latter had a stronger emotional impact, the former still provides solid drama and tells the interesting story of an ordinary man who, after performing a heroic act, is accused of being a suspect by the FBI.

While it's far from one of the best films Clint Eastwood has directed, Richard Jewell is still a compelling drama and tells the extraordinary true story of its titular character with an impressive performance from Paul Walter Hauser.

7/10