Richard Jewell

A flawed Jewell.

If I asked a dozen friends “who was the Atlanta Olympics bomber?” I expect half or more would answer “Richard Jewell.” That type of misinformation, which spread so wildly in pre-internet 1996, is the focus of this docudrama from director Clint Eastwood. Clarity in reporting is obviously still a relevant topic today.

Overzealous security guard Jewell is played by Paul Walter Hauser (I,Tonya, BlackKklansman), in a performance that should be on the shortlist for all acting awards — if he wasn’t outshined by the mega names already on them. Hauser is phenomenal at commanding empathy for this gentle and flawed man, before and after he’s caught in a whirlwind of finger-pointing from the FBI — and the world.

Kathy Bates and Jon Hamm have less success sinking into these very real roles, which makes me glad that original actor Jonah Hill did not play Jewell. Worse, Olivia Wilde plays a heightened version of AJ-C journalist Kathy Scruggs that seems misplaced and irresponsible. In a film that explores what happens when people are misrepresented, it’s an odd choice to portray anyone this way.

But damn, there’s also Sam Rockwell. It seems everything he does this decade gets the gold, and his turn as lawyer Watson Bryant is a joy to watch.

Eastwood, with his minimal style and recent focus on scrutinized heroes (American Sniper, Sully, The Mule) is the right director for this story, but he misstepped with the Scruggs story.

In a nutshell: It’s a film that is worth seeing for the winning performances of Hauser and Rockwell, and to make sure this story is told.

Award potential: I’d give the Oscar gold to Hauser, but it’s a rough path for a subtle performance by an unknown to get nominated. He's in a crowd of megastars like De Niro, Pacino, Pitt, Hanks, Bale, DiCaprio, Driver, and Joacquin Phoenix — all in showy performances. Hauser already failed to land a nomination for SAG or Golden Globes. 

I’d also give a nomination to Rockwell, but I think voters have been punching his name too often lately, including Jo Jo Rabbit this year, and this film is flawed. I'm not sure if a Eastwood has a blind spot for female reporters or just reporters, but that misstep should hurt the films chances at nods in other categories.

The Ten Buck Review: Worth ten bucks.

Knives Out

It’s sharp.

No spoilers here, but let’s go ahead and solve the mystery of the review: Knives Out delivers on what I expected from 2017’s hugely disappointing Agatha Christie franchise reboot, Murder On The Orient Express. It’s a sharp, witty crowd-pleaser.

Other than entries in the Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes series, the list of whodunnits in film is surprisingly short. Gosford Park, The Usual Suspects, Clue and The Big Sleep come to mind, but that’s about one per decade. TV is the likely suspect of this drought, with procedurals solving crimes and mysteries as often as Angela Lansbury finds a murder in her town.

Director Rian Johnson (Star Wars: The Last Jedi) takes us on a fast-paced journey where every suspect has a strong motive. Christopher Plummer, slays as the wealthy patriarch. The full cast includes the ensemble of Toni Collette, Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Don Johnson, and Katherine Langford.

Daniel Craig, as Benoit Blanc, takes a stab at a hefty New Orleans accent, perhaps to accentuate the point that this is an American version of the Agatha Christie format. I found it distracting.

The script has its share of familiar elements that feel half like a throwback to the genre and half like cheats. The family mansion setting, the family will as a common motive, murder night flashbacks, and the showy reveal of clues in the final scenes are all very familiar elements of course. However, all of those elements feel appropriate given the genre, the brisk pace, several star turns, the smart social commentary, and a lively script.

This may not be one of the top films of the year, but it is one of the most enjoyable ones to see with friends in a theater. I suspect you’ll enjoy this as much as I did.

In a nutshell: Knives Out is KO entertainment.

Award potential: It's already nominated for Golden Globe Best Picture (Comedy or Musical) and Best Actor in the same category. It won’t be included in SAG or Oscars however. If so, I’d bet on the Art Direction of the Thrombey estate as a possible nod. Long shot for SAG's Ensemble Award for this killer group. I’d also consider Chris Evan’s perfect sweater for a best supporting role.

The Ten Buck Review: Worth ten bucks.