Kill the Messenger
Release Date: October 10th 2014
Studio: Focus Features
Director: Michael Cuesta (“Homeland”)
Writers: Peter Landesman, based upon the books Dark Alliance, by Gary Webb, and Kill the Messenger, by Nick Schou
Main Cast: Jeremy Renner, Rosemarie DeWitt, Ray Liotta, Tim Blake Nelson, Barry Pepper, Oliver Platt, Michael Sheen, Paz Vega, Michael Kenneth Williams, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Andy Garcia
Genres: Biography | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller
MPAA rating: Rated R for language and drug content
Storyline: Two-time Academy Award nominee Jeremy Renner (“The Bourne Legacy”) leads an all-star cast in a dramatic thriller based on the remarkable true story of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Gary Webb. Webb stumbles onto a story which leads to the shady origins of the men who started the crack epidemic on the nation’s streets…and further alleges that the CIA was aware of major dealers who were smuggling cocaine into the U.S., and using the profits to arm rebels fighting in Nicaragua. Despite warnings from drug kingpins and CIA operatives to stop his investigation, Webb keeps digging to uncover a conspiracy with explosive implications. His journey takes him from the prisons of California to the villages of Nicaragua to the highest corridors of power in Washington, D.C. – and draws the kind of attention that threatens not just his career, but his family and his life.
It's always interesting for me to watch a movie that is based on a true story. You wonder what is fact and what is fiction. Even though admittedly I went into Kill The Messenger without knowing that it was based on a true story. In fact, it wasn't until I was about halfway through watching that I put the pieces together that it was. Yes, I know I should have done my homework before I screened the movie, but I was sold on the actors. I am a huge fan of Michael Sheen, and when I saw that he had a support role I immediately wanted to see this movie. But this film is clearly Jeremy Renner's film. He not only stars in it, he's also one of the producers.
Kill the Messenger tells the story of Gary Webb. The film is based on the book of the same name. In 1996, Gary Webb published an article (Dark Alliance) in the San Jose Mercury News exposing the CIA's involvement in distributing cocaine in urban cities. The film follows Webb (Renner) as he discovers the truth, his article, and the subsequent aftermath of his article.
One of the immediate things I got while watching was that I was in the 90s. The film captures the time period very well. It also sneaks in actual footage from television news reports as well. But everything from the style of dress, to the cars just screamed 1990. And the way this film is shot is just great. At times there clearly was a hand camera used. I personally love when directors go this route. It feels more real.
But while Renner's acting was spectacular. A few of the other characters fell a little flat for me. Particularly Webb's family. I just didn't see much chemistry between Renner and Rosmarie DeWitt, the actress who played his wife. But this film isn't a love story, so fortunately it doesn't take too much away from the film.
This movie stayed with me after I watched it. Even now, days after I've seen the film it has me wondering about right and wrong. How society uses the underdog and scapegoats to protect themselves. Renner gives a speech at the end that left me teary eyed. It was so emotional and raw. It captured the entire essence of the movie.
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