As with journalism, film is about creating a story. Whether or not a given story is true, the mere recording of it is a fabrication on some level. When reading news stories, it's important to recall the work behind the investigation before taking things at face value. This maxim, preached in Tom McCarthy's Spotlight, applies as much to the film itself as to the journalistic integrity displayed onscreen. On a purely narrative level, Spotlight will wow audiences with the story of the Boston Globe team that blew the lid off the Catholic Church's seemingly systemic molestation of children — as well as the ensuing cover-up. The film's characters represent an ethical high ground, something to aspire to and to be inspired by. The film succeeds in reminding viewers of an ethical aberration that might otherwise slide into the memory hole. In exploring the tragedies that first rocked the world in 2002, Spotlight not only recreates the original drama for the screen, but also reopens those wounds, exposing the story and its aftermath anew. The film invests the Globe's exposé with a certain Hollywood sheen, which makes for easy viewing despite the heady subject matter. It's easy to fall under such a spell, but a savvy viewer will be able to see beyond the luster that — snappy pacing and moving Howard Shore soundtrack notwithstanding — Spotlight tells a crucial story of morals that still resonates amid continued injustices.
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