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Richard Jewell (2019)
#1
I stumbled upon this on HBO. Directed by Clint Eastwood, it tells the story of Richard Jewell who was first lionized as a hero and then vilified as the bomber in the bombing during the 1996 Olympics.

I was sucked in. I knew that it was floating around on the channel but had no great urgency for me. Especially since Eastwood can be hit or miss. And his films all have a certain sameness of style to them without a lot of flair. I missed the very beginning but got it minutes before the bomb goes off.

It's a good recap of the story with plenty of lies thrown in. I remember at the time the talk of the egregious use of a reporter sleeping with someone in the government for a scoop. The acting is good with a fine cast of Jon Hamm, Kathy Bates, and Sam Rockwell. Seeing Rockwell was in the film is what kept me in it. He stands out, like he usually does.

The film gives Eastwood to rail against the heavy handedness of the government, of what it's like being the little guy facing off all the power of the FBI. It's that nightmarish world of what happens when the government can do whatever it wants. So, yeah, it was kind of preachy.

It's a solid if unexceptional movie.
As a matter of fact, my anger does keep me warm

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#2
Agreed. I don't care for Hamm so he made a decent villain. And Bates played Bates. Who else would she play? Wilde was caricature, which bugged me. I couldn't see her reaction to the bombing as real, even for someone so callow. 

Paul Hauser (Jewell) was the best part, upstaging all of them. I know plenty of security guys from the wulin and the music scene who echo his survivalist/LEOwannabe vibe. That was spot on.

Didn't realize it was an Eastwood film until the end credits. I just to luv Clint for the Man with no name and Dirty Harry, but he lost me at the RNC when he talked to the empty chair. That made this come off as even more preachy as we head into the elections. 

No swords fights. Not DOOM recommended.
Shadow boxing the apocalypse
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