Richard Jewell (2019) ***

Richard Jewell (2019) is one of those films where, depending on the political affiliations of the viewer/reviewer, and given Clint Eastwood's leanings, there are wildly different takes to be had. Some people think it's a conservative film about the plight and "persecution of the white male", others think it's Eastwood's attempt at a more nuanced approach to a real life story. Some think it's more than a little about Trump, which, outside of the theme of media and FBI investigation, seems like a stretch to me.

There are definitely demonizations of certain characters in RJ, one "troubling" portrayal, some heavy sentimentality, a few unconvincing turns, "movie stakes", and other aspects that can be picked apart. Take the subject matter and the presentation as you will, but in the end, Richard Jewell is an entertaining and well-made drama with a humorous streak and strong performances by Paul Walter Hauser, Sam Rockwell, and Kathy Bates.

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