Richard Jewell (2019)
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A security guard becomes a national hero after discovering a bomb at the 1996 Olympics, only to be wrongly branded a suspect by the media and authorities.
The story
In 1996, security guard Richard Jewell discovers a suspicious backpack at the Centennial Park during the Summer Olympics in Atlanta. After he alerts authorities and the bomb is safely neutralized, Jewell is initially hailed as a hero for his actions. However, the narrative quickly shifts when the FBI and the media begin to question his motives. Accused of being a 'wanna-be' officer seeking attention, Jewell finds himself caught in a media frenzy and a legal battle as he fights to clear his name from the allegations of being a terrorist.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
The film follows Richard Jewell, a man whose life is upended after he discovers a bomb at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. Initially celebrated as a hero, he is soon targeted by the FBI and the media as a potential suspect. With the help of attorney Watson Bryant, Jewell navigates a grueling legal and public relations battle. The film depicts the investigation, the media's role in his persecution, and the eventual revelation of the true culprit. In 2003, Jewell is cleared of all charges when the actual bomber, Eric Rudolph, is captured. The film concludes with a look at Jewell's life following the events, including his death in 2007.
- First release year
- 2019
- Runtime (minutes)
- 131
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Clint Eastwood
- Writers
- Billy Ray · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Paul Walter Hauser · Jewell; Sam Rockwell · lawyer; Kathy Bates; Jon Hamm; Olivia Wilde
- Genres
- biographical drama; historical drama
- Themes
- media sensationalism; wrongful accusation; justice
- Tone and mood
- serious; dramatic
- Premise and plot tags
- true story; legal drama; biopic
- Source material / true-story basis
- 1997 Vanity Fair article 'American Nightmare: The Ballad of Richard Jewell' and the 2019 book 'The Suspect: An Olympic Bombing, the FBI, the Media, and Richard Jewell, the Man Caught in the Middle'.
- Reception
- The film received generally positive reviews from critics, particularly for the performances of the lead actors and Clint Eastwood's direction, though it faced criticism regarding the portrayal of reporter Kathy Scruggs.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 77% · scale: percentage · review count: 301; Metacritic · score: 68 · scale: 100 · review count: 45; CinemaScore · score: A · scale: A+ to F
- Awards and nominations
- National Board of Review Award · Best Supporting Actress · win; Academy Awards · Best Supporting Actress · nomination; Golden Globes · Best Supporting Actress · nomination
- Production trivia
- The film was initially set to star Leonardo DiCaprio and Jonah Hill.; Clint Eastwood continued filming despite a nearby wildfire.; The film was initially announced in February 2014.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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