Cinephile № 828 “Richard Jewell”

Recommendation: 4/5 Stars, SHOWTIME

Plot: “American security guard, Richard Jewell, saves thousands of lives from an exploding bomb at the 1996 Olympics, but is vilified by journalists and the press who falsely reported that he was a terrorist.” -IMDB

Review: For my 21st film of the 2019 AFI Fest, I spent some time with the latest offering from director Clint Eastwood. To fully appreciate this story, you must understand Richard Jewell (Paul Walter Hauser).

We’ve all met guys like Richard who take low-level jobs with a certain amount of authority way too seriously. In this case, Richard is a security guard hired to keep the peace during the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, GA. Immediately, you will notice the dialogue needs some work. It can come across as fake and inauthentic. The writing gets much better as this film progresses, but the opening 30 minutes are a bit rough. It is in the chaos of an explosion and the actions taken by Richard to save people that this film really begins to shine.

As the smoke begins to clear and stories of heroism emerge, Richard is exalted for his bravery. As the country celebrates his selflessness, a tip is slipped to an overly ambitious reporter that casts doubt on his story. With his life flipped upside down, Richard doesn’t do himself any favors by choosing to speak to the press. This…