Richard Jewell

Name: Richard Jewell
Genre: Biography, Drama, Crime
Released: December 13, 2019
Duration: 131 min
Rating: 68
Cast: Beth Keener, Brandon Stanley, Charles Green, David Moretti, Deja Dee

2019

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Generally favorable reviews based on 45 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 166 Ratings

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7.5	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 166 Ratings

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Richard Jewell

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Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. | Release Date: December 13, 2019 | R

Starring: Beth Keener, Brandon Stanley, Charles Green, David Moretti, Deja Dee, Ian Gómez, Jon Hamm, Kathy Bates, Marc Farley, Mike Pniewski, Mitchell Hoog, Nina Arianda, Olivia Wilde, Paul Walter Hauser, Randall P. Havens, Ryan Boz, Sam Rockwell, Victoria Paige Watkins, Wayne Duvall, Wendy Prescott Luke

Summary: The world is first introduced to Richard Jewell as the security guard who reports finding the device at the 1996 Atlanta bombing—his report making him a hero whose swift actions save countless lives. But within days, the law enforcement wannabe becomes the FBI’s number one suspect, vilified by press and public alike, his life ripped apart.The world is first introduced to Richard Jewell as the security guard who reports finding the device at the 1996 Atlanta bombing—his report making him a hero whose swift actions save countless lives. But within days, the law enforcement wannabe becomes the FBI’s number one suspect, vilified by press and public alike, his life ripped apart. Reaching out to independent, anti-establishment attorney Watson Bryant, Jewell staunchly professes his innocence. But Bryant finds he is out of his depth as he fights the combined powers of the FBI, GBI and APD to clear his client’s name, while keeping Richard from trusting the very people trying to destroy him.… Expand

Director: Clint Eastwood

Genre(s): Biography, Drama, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 131 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Rex Reed

Dec 18, 2019

Yes, this is a great one, and a magnificent centerpiece performance by an unknown actor named Paul Walter Hauser in the title role is a major reason it is so unforgettable. Read full review

The Film Stage Glenn Heath Jr.

Dec 12, 2019

While Richard Jewell might not be top tier Eastwood, Hauser’s nervy, sweaty performance feels like a culmination for the filmmaker, a beautiful stripping away of the star power afforded by actors like Hanks and Cooper that reveals something deeper about American self-destruction. Read full review

A.O. Scott

Dec 12, 2019

The shadows are what linger from this flawed, fascinating movie. Read full review

Inkoo Kang

Dec 9, 2019

More diverting is the increasingly desperate forensics the FBI resorts to in order to build a case against Jewell, though it’s not always clear which tactics are simply thorough, now outdated, or flagrantly illegal. But Richard Jewell has so little to say about its time period or how the culture has shifted that it ends up exposing the relative quaintness of its concerns. Read full review

Ignatiy Vishnevetsky

Dec 4, 2019

Like so many of the works of Eastwood’s long late period, Jewell offers a story without much of an endpoint, with an uplifting coda that feels almost as jarring as the ending of "American Sniper." But somewhere within its surprisingly pacey two-plus hours is a compelling group portrait of ordinary oddballs in cruel circumstances; it relays Eastwood’s appreciation for individuals over masses better than any speech ever could. Read full review

Chuck Bowen

Dec 9, 2019

Ironically, Clint Eastwood is as condescending of Jewell as the bureaucrats he despises. Read full review

Movie Nation Roger Moore

Dec 12, 2019

Eastwood’s made some bad movies in recent years, along with some gems. This is the first film of his I’ve seen since his organutan co-star days that had me embarrassed for him. Read full review

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User Reviews

Deanomite

Jan 17, 2020

This was the best movie of the year. it is about our Constitutional rights and how rogue government destroys well meaning con•sci•en•tious individuals. Eastwood is a master of character development, and a big part of that is showing the flaws. Richard Jewell is a very flawed individual,This was the best movie of the year. it is about our Constitutional rights and how rogue government destroys well meaning con•sci•en•tious individuals. Eastwood is a master of character development, and a big part of that is showing the flaws. Richard Jewell is a very flawed individual, seems mildly autistic. But he provides a valuable service and is happy to help and is deeply empathetic. Arguably the most complete character in an Eastwood movie. And well portrayed by John Paul Hauser. Excellent casting choices of Kathy Bates, Sam Rockwell and John Hamm, every single one a good actor with a chance to breathe a little. It was very surreal to see the crazy guy correct. There is a lesson in all this, it is that people are trash. The FBI, media and employers would never have behaved in this fashion if anything else were true. Decent people are an island in an ocean. I was incredibly moved when he said he is not allowed to talk to people anymore, I have recently reached the same conclusion for different reasons, that is brilliant filmmaking. All I can say is Sam Rockwell definitely earned his Snickers. I cried when he said his mom only got to be proud for 3 days of her son, i cried a lot at this movie, like watching The Elephant Man win. This is Jungian individual vs collective at it's best, with some Kafka arbitrary justice thrown in, bravo Clint Eastwood, mastering philosophy and contemporary Constitutional rights at once. The crazy guy walked away disappointed with the incompetence of the government.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Naser2153

Dec 19, 2019

This is Clint Eastwood's best work in a decade. Compelling, heartbreaking and fantastic. Absolutely 2019's best film. A must see and I can see why so many critics are angry with this film.

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

samanhanks

Dec 13, 2019

This is the BEST picture of 2019. Eastwood truly delivers! This film has brought Eastwood back to the way he once made movies. The hero who becomes the villain who becomes the hero again. Richard Jewell was falsely accused of planting a bomb that they then allowed the mainstream media toThis is the BEST picture of 2019. Eastwood truly delivers! This film has brought Eastwood back to the way he once made movies. The hero who becomes the villain who becomes the hero again. Richard Jewell was falsely accused of planting a bomb that they then allowed the mainstream media to ruin this mans life when they could've stopped it at any time. They needed a scapegoat and used him because they couldn't admit they couldn't catch the real bomber. This movie delivers raw emotion, will absolutely draw you in and leave you wanting for watch it again and again.… Expand

6 of 8 users found this helpful62

kmtd1971

Mar 28, 2020

Great movie. It makes the FBI looks like a complete group of idiots! the acting is excellent. Clint did it again

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Spiritvox

Jan 12, 2020

I very much enjoyed this movie. It’s very heartbreaking to see even in the 90’s what our government and media will do for their own gain. So happy the truth came out in the end.

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

ArshiaBorjali

Dec 26, 2020

Before talking about the movie, it can be said that "Richard Jewell" is one of those movies that proves that art does not know age. Ninety-year-old Clint Eastwood is still alive in the cinema and can make good films. The most important strength of the movie is its strong characterization, soBefore talking about the movie, it can be said that "Richard Jewell" is one of those movies that proves that art does not know age. Ninety-year-old Clint Eastwood is still alive in the cinema and can make good films. The most important strength of the movie is its strong characterization, so that in the very first few scenes, we get a good definition and knowledge of the main character, in a way that from the very beginning, Richard finds his place in our hearts. And we want everything that is good for him until the end of the film. This innocence of Jewell, which turns into oppression throughout the film, keeps us by his side until the end of the movie and does not allow the viewer to be indifferent to Jewell and his fate. The camera also plays an important role in completing this characterization and the viewer 's closeness to Jewell's character, from the very opening scenes that represent him, the middle of the film which is the culmination of events for him and his mother and the end of the film which is a good ending. This strong characterization has also been performed for Jewell's mother, who is also far from exaggerated and can be fully understood and believed. This point, however, is a bit weak for the lawyer, so that the reason for his acceptance of the case is a bit weak, but with the progress of the film, his efforts are somewhat acceptable, although this point still has no effect on the emotional depth of the film. The script, which is the most fundamental cinematic element of any movie, plays a very important role here as well, and this characterization comes out of it.This coherence and quality of the script makes Richard's ideals of believing in the law and the police credible And it does not let his honorable sentences in the last interrogation seem like slogans at all. In the meantime, the good acting of "Paul Walter Hauser", "Sam Rockwell" and of course "Kathy Bates" cannot be easily overlooked. Kitty's character is also somewhat good, but her sudden and emotional change at the end of the movie is not very believable. Eastwood has done well in instilling a hatred of the media in the viewer which is sometimes even more dangerous than the law and its injustice, but one downside to the film is that the federal police investigation process is somewhat vague and it is not clear exactly how and with what evidence they can advance the case so much, but this movie is enough good that these negative points do not have much effect on its quality. The final sequence of the interrogation is also a good sequence, because we see the release of real Jewell's thoughts and ideals, not slogans, through words that are still uttered innocently, like himself, and according to the characterization and script, it is not a cliché at all. Also, it should be noted that the camera works well in the same sequence and the mise en scène is also acceptable. In general, "Richard Jewell" is a good film that entertains and satisfies the audience as much as it can.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JordanLayton

Apr 27, 2020

A great story I was unaware of with some good performances, questionable editing, and an amateur screenplay. This story of a true believer in the the United States justice system being shown its darkest side is a compelling one. The way it's told is from a very one-sided point of view, but IA great story I was unaware of with some good performances, questionable editing, and an amateur screenplay. This story of a true believer in the the United States justice system being shown its darkest side is a compelling one. The way it's told is from a very one-sided point of view, but I don't have too much trouble believing that there was little exaggeration in the details that mattered about it.

Walter Hauser gives an impressive performance in a role that is arguably quite difficult to empathize with and Kathy Bates came to her supporting role in a lane I didn't know she had: a tired, withering, mother. If there's one thing this film has, it's great performances in difficult roles. Playing a smart character with strong convictions is one thing, but getting an audience to empathize with less educated characters with strong convictions is a difficult task, in my experience. Unfortunately, some other things went wrong. Some films are saved in the edit. I would argue this one was partially lost in it. One buzz phrase in film making is "arrive late, leave early:' This film unfortunately did the opposite and you feel it. This may have also been a screenplay issue, of which there were many. Copious flashbacks and one cliche dream sequence are written into this script and it just did not need those things on top of the other fluff that dragged this film out to 2h12m. This story definitely did not require that runtime to tell. For those reasons, I'm out.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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