Spotlight (2015)

We all know the story, Catholic priests do naughty things with children and they try to cover it up. What SPOTLIGHT does is to follow the trail of the Boston Globe as they gather bit by bit material to make a case against the archdiocese of Boston and their cardinal who is unwilling to be candid with them. Peter Conley, a church representative, tells Robby, a reporter (Michael Keaton) that they'll lose readership if they publish the story. Then when that seems ineffective he says it's only a few bad apples. A powerful line follows to the effect that the church operates this way, leaning on someone to look the other way and let rape continue. The church shows no responsibility and nothing is ever stated in apologetic terms to the newspaper. The film also shows how the story affects the investigative reporters, one has children living near a home that houses priests who are in treatment for their naughty activities. They all grew up with the church yet it never held them. This was left hanging as if to say "Hey audience, ponder the irony of that." Tight kewl editing kept the plot driving forward and I never lost interest even in the slower moments. [4.8 stars]