Spoiler alert! Please do not read the following plot summary if you have not seen the film.
In 2001, The Boston Globe hires a new editor, Marty Baron. Baron meets Walter "Robby" Robinson, the editor of the Spotlight team, a small group of journalists writing investigative articles that take months to research and publish. After Baron reads a Globe column about a lawyer, Mitchell Garabedian, who says that Cardinal Law (the Archbishop of Boston) knew that the priest John Geoghan was sexually abusing children and did nothing to stop him, he urges the Spotlight team to investigate. Journalist Michael Rezendes contacts Garabedian, who initially declines interview. Though he is told not to, Rezendes reveals that he is on the Spotlight team, persuading Garabedian to talk.
Initially believing that they are following the story of one priest who was moved around several times, the Spotlight team begin to uncover a pattern of sexual abuse of children by Catholic priests in Massachusetts, and an ongoing cover-up by the Boston Archdiocese. Through a man who heads a victim's rights organization, they widen their search to thirteen priests. They learn through an ex-priest who worked trying to rehabilitate pedophile priests that there should be approximately ninety abusive priests in Boston. Through their research, they develop a list of eighty-seven names, and begin to find their victims to back up their suspicions. When the September 11 attacks occur, the team is forced to deprioritize the story. They regain momentum when Rezendes learns from Garabedian that there are publicly available documents that confirm Cardinal Law was aware of the problem and ignored it. After The Boston Globe wins a case to have even more legal documents unsealed, the Spotlight Team finally begins to write the story, and plan to publish their findings in early 2002.
As they are about to go to print, Robinson confesses to the team that he was sent a list of twenty pedophile priests in 1993 in a story he never followed up on. Baron, nevertheless, tells Robinson and the team that the work they are doing is important. The story goes to print with a link leading to the documents that expose Cardinal Law, and a phone number requesting victims of pedophile priests to come forward. The following morning, the Spotlight team is inundated with phone calls from victims coming forward to tell their stories. The film closes with a list of places in the United States and around the world where the Catholic Church has been involved in concealing abuse by priests.
TRIVIA
1. Before meeting the real Walter Robinson, Michael Keaton (who plays Walter in the film) did a thorough research into his character and did an impersonation of Walter on their first meeting. Robinson was scared to death wondering how Michael knew so much about him already.
2. While finding out information about Walter, Micheal realized that he actually lived very close to Robinson’s house.
3. Mark Ruffalo, who plays Michael Rezendes in the film, made the real Michael say all his lines between breaks in order to reprise the character appropriately.
4. At the time of the film’s release, Michael Rezendes was the only journalist still part of the Spotlight team.
5. In 2013, the film’s scrip appeared in the popular ‘Black list,’ a list of really good, but unmade films.
6. The font used in the credits and name cards is Miller, which was the typeface the Boston Globe used in its publication.
7. This is Keaton’s second film where his character is part of the newspaper industry; the first was ‘The Paper’ in 1994.
8. Marget Robbie was originally cast to play Sacha Pfeiffer, but she turned it down due to exhaustion. Before Rachel McAdams was finally cast, Amy Adams and Michelle Williams were in talks for the same.
#Spotlight is fantastic. A story that has been covered up for years and encourages those to speak up and not stay silent anymore. Watch it!
— Melissa R. (@wishupon59) February 11, 2016
So glad I stayed up late on a school night to finally see #Spotlight. Excellent film. See it while you still can!
— Yozzie (@yozzie_osman) February 11, 2016
#Spotlight was absolutely and unswervingly good.
— Alexandra Cullen (@oh_cullerina) February 11, 2016
Just back from #Spotlight. It is absolutely brilliant. Obviously heavy, but a really compelling story. Recommended #movies #film
— Ciarán Murphy (@CiaranMurphy224) February 10, 2016
#spotlight bloody good film. 4 **** and a half *. Strongly recommend that you go and see.
— David Austin (@PinstripeDave) February 10, 2016
#Spotlight has such exquisite storytelling. Ithe movie better win at least 1 #oscar
— Eduardo Santana (@stedudade) February 10, 2016
#Spotlight was another good film I saw today, but I found Mark Ruffalo and Rachel McAdams underwhelming in their Oscar nominated roles.
— Rhys Roberts (@Roberts0502) February 10, 2016
#Spotlight was superb. Top class storytelling and performances. That it's based on a true story makes it terrifying.
— Michael Zhane (@BlueZh) February 10, 2016
Saw #Spotlight tonight. Brilliant film. Effected me viscerally. Furious again, while bawling & wiping the Ash Wed cross from my forehead.
— Dee Dee C (@missbolofski) February 10, 2016
#Spotlight: crisp and pacy.
— Meenakshi Upadhyay (@meenakshitweets) February 20, 2016
- What is the release date of 'Spotlight'?
Release date of Mark Ruffalo and Michael Keaton starrer 'Spotlight' is 2016-02-19. - Who are the actors in 'Spotlight'?
'Spotlight' star cast includes Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams and John Slattery. - Who is the director of 'Spotlight'?
'Spotlight' is directed by Tom McCarthy. - Who is the producer of 'Spotlight'?
'Spotlight' is produced by Steve Golin,Nicole Rocklin,Michael Sugar. - What is Genre of 'Spotlight'?
'Spotlight' belongs to 'Crime,Drama' genre. - In Which Languages is 'Spotlight' releasing?
'Spotlight' is releasing in English.