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Richard Jewell (2019)
At the heart of this effective character portrait of a simple security guard who ended up as FBI's primary suspect of a terrorist bombing he helped limit the consequences of during the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta is a superb lead performance by Paul Walter Hauser. And if you don't know that much about the case beforehand, Clint Eastwood's economical, tight direction also helps create a tension reminiscent of 1970s era thrillers (Play Misty for Me springs to mind from time to time). Particularly the first part of the film is taut with its slowly looming atmosphere. And then the latter part gives us the always wonderful Sam Rockwell in full glow. He is one of those actors who can be showy without compromising authenticity. As Rockwell becomes our shield against the arrogance of power and the media on the one hand and Richard Jewell's apparent gullibility on the other, Eastwood guides us effectively through this remarkable, poignant story. Kathy Bates received her third Academy Award Best Supporting Actress nomination for her empathetic performance as Jewell's mother.
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