Blu-ray Movie Reviews

A team of four Boston Globe journalists headed by Walter Robinson (Michael Keaton) is searching for their next exposé when their editor-in-chief (Liev Schreiber) suggests they investigate pedophile priest John Geoghan: a controversial assignment for a newspaper with a 53 percent Catholic subscriber base. Six-hundred articles later, Boston’s Cardinal Law had resigned, and the church was forced to confront an international pedophilia crisis. Clearly the best newspaper movie since All the President’s Men, Spotlight’s brilliant ensemble cast and perfectly paced screenplay surpass Pakula’s 1976 classic, justifying its Best Picture Oscar. To its credit, the movie manages to evoke ethos for the victims and outrage at the perpetrators without condemning or indicting the Catholic Church itself. In this, Spotlight honors the remarkable journalistic achievement it documents.

Although the subject matter of Spotlight limits the opportunities for showoff audio and video, the film’s production values are, for a small-scale film, impressive. Since many scenes take place under fluorescent office lights, fleshtones often assume a pallor while fine textures and details are occasionally washed out. Stunningly rich black levels with gobs of shadow detail suggest a high degree of care and craftsmanship. Great color dynamics yield a palette that is both natural and neutral, as evidenced by the gorgeous greens of the golf course sequence. Resolution of fine details is variable, sometimes pinpoint and precise, sometimes drowned by those merciless fluorescents.

Audio achieves a higher level of consistency. Howard Shore’s foundational score is reproduced with lovely tonality and unimpeachable clarity. Though there are few opportunities for noteworthy hard surround effects, the rear channels are always working. Whether it’s the subtle but pervasive hubbub of the Globe offices or the murmur of the crowd at Fenway Park, the listener is always treated to an immersive and atmospheric performance, bolstered by canny use of Foley effects. Mostly, however, this dialogue-intensive audio track renders each actor’s voice as uniquely as a thumbprint.

Extras include an insightful interview with the actual Globe editors and journalists who broke the story, but a film of such significance cries out for a substantial making-of documentary, sadly absent. Spotlight is poignant proof that inspired acting and intimate direction—rather than sci-fi and special effects—still define a movie’s greatness.

Blu-Ray
Studio: Universal, 2015
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audio Format: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Length: 129 mins.
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Tom McCarthy
Starring: Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams