Spotlight Review - 4 Stars

“Spotlight” celebrates newspapers and newspaper reporting.  Comparisons to “All the President’s Men” hit the mark with an extra bit of sadness.  The kind of work shown in this feature may not exist much longer.  Based on the 2002 Pulitzer prize-winning reporting by the Boston Globe of the Catholic Church’s coverup of abuse by priests, Michael Keaton leads a group of reporters looking for the big picture.  They include passionate Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams, and Brian d’Arcy.  The story captures the city wide institutional pressure to look the other way.  This isn’t told in black and white but rather shades of grey.  Even the media shares some of the blame.  Keaton stands out as the leader of the team.  The great John Slattery adds heft as their editor.  Liev Schreiber plays a credible executive editor new to town looking in from the outside.  Several segments are thrilling, especially the finale when the presses print, the trucks deliver, and the story hits the front stoop.  Does it deliver what it promises?  One of the year’s best.  Is it entertaining?  Compelling.  Is it worth the price of admission?  A must see.