Richard Jewell (2019)

Another box ticked in my endless quest to see all of Clint Eastwood’s films; an odyssey I’m not sure I’ll complete such is the impressive output of the ninety-one year old. And, once more, for me, he doesn’t disappoint. Richard Jewell is the true story of the titular security guard who discovered a pipe bomb in Centennial Olympic Park at the Atlanta Olympics, and as a result saved potentially hundreds of lives as he started to clear the area minutes before the bomb went off, killing two and injuring over one hundred. Originally designated a hero, his life took a terrible turn after he became the sole focus of the FBI’s investigation, fitting their sole bomber theory with his questionable background. Eastwood’s non-fussy approach to filming results in efficient, frequently effective work, a trait especially true of his late career output. He gets good performances out of his actors, and Richard Jewell is no different. Paul Walter Hauser captures Jewell very well, sometimes leaving you exasperated at his insistence in helping the FBI by being duped into implicating himself because, “I’m law enforcement too.” It’s a sad reflection of the reality of the way the law works; Jewell appears guilty until proven innocent. Sam Rockwell is brilliant (as always) as Jewell’s lawyer; he is without doubt one of the most reliable actors working today. There has been some controversy over the portrayal of Olivia Wilde’s journalist Kathy Scruggs; Wilde plays her as an unpleasant individual, willing to go to any unethical lengths to sell a story, a take on the character that some have taken issue with. It’s not for me to say how accurate the screenplay is to the real life Scruggs, certainly with regards to her personal life, but it is unquestionably true that Scruggs’ published story about Jewell being the prime suspect was the catalyst in making Jewell’s and his Mother’s life a living hell for a while.

The film is flawed, Scruggs’ sudden change of heart in the film towards the end isn’t really explained and doesn’t really work, and there are moments that seem slightly skewed and crow-barred in to fit the underdog narrative story. However these were fairly minor quibbles for me, Richard Jewell is yet another solid film from Eastwood whose latter career continues to gain momentum and once again proves his efficiency and skill behind the camera. 7.3/10