Richard Jewell: A Predictable Lesson

Rating: 5.9/10

A film that explores the danger of stereotyping, Richard Jewell is interesting but fails to surprise or tell the story America needs today.

Highlights:

• Great acting by Paul Walter Hauser (Richard Jewell) and Kathy Bates (Bobi Jewell)

• Important example of false profiling

• Helped to clear Jewell's name

Lowlights: 

• Inaccurate and negative portrayal of late journalist Kathy Scruggs

• A bit slow

• No surprises

Unfortunately, the entire plot of Richard Jewell is known to anyone who hears anything about the movie. Jewell discovers a bomb at the 1996 Olympics, is hailed a hero, and then becomes the primary suspect of the investigation. The film is not much more than that. In addition, Richard Jewell unfortunately taints the name of real-life Kathy Scruggs, suggesting that she slept with a journalist in order to obtain her story. Although Hauser and Bates are incredible and the film serves as an important reminder to judge people off of actions rather than stereotypes, it profiles a type of man who is rarely harmed by false assumptions. In a society where not white, but black or brown men, are harmed or killed because of negative stereotypes, Richard Jewell is too gentle an example of assumptions going too far.

Did you watch the movie? Do you want more? Check out The Suspect: An Olympic Bombing, the FBI, the Media, and Richard Jewell, the Man Caught in the Middle by Kent Alexander and Kevin Salwen. An in-depth look at the scenario the film predicted, this book will give more information on how exactly the FBI and media devastatingly penetrated Jewell's life.

Watch the trailer!