Spotlight (2015)

I very rarely anticipate the release of films based on true stories, because the typical result of them is that they aren't usually unique or even cinematic. It is usually released for the sake of awards success. Personally, as much as I did find myself enjoying 'Spotlight', it still falls into that category. The ensemble cast are very good, the standout being Mark Ruffalo, who conveys a very determined, sympathetic character with a genuine passion for his job and the truth which I found very endearing. Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber and Stanley Tucci all perform well, but the script never gives any of them much meat to chew on until later in the film. The direction by Tom McCarthy seems intentionally stripped down, which could be reflective of how the Spotlight team are slowly uncovering their investigation to find and discover the plain truth. Sometimes this works very effectively, other times it prevents the film from conveying any of the themes through visuals. Otherwise, the performances were good, the story is well-paced and the writing of the film never left me feeling boring or uninterested, just maybe longing for something a bit more memorable.