Freeze Frame: “Richard Jewell” (R)

The bombing incident at Atlanta’s Centennial Park during the 1996 Olympics marked the beginning of a dark time in American society. The FBI and the press were convinced that the security guard who first noticed the pipe bomb and saved many lives had actually planted the device himself in a concerted effort to be hailed as a hero.

 

Director Clint Eastwood’s film “Richard Jewell” takes a look at the sad sack hero whose life was forever damaged as a result of the media frenzy. Paul Walter Hauser, probably best known for playing one of Nancy Kerrigan’s assailants in “I, Tonya,” is ideally cast in the title role. Kathy Bates plays his long-suffering mom, Sam Rockwell is his resolute lawyer, Jon Hamm is an overly zealous FBI agent and Olivia Wilde plays the overly ambitious Atlanta newspaper reporter who saw this story as the way to ignite her stagnant career.

 

The film is a cautionary tale that points an accusing finger at a society all-too eager to build up heroes and all-too eager to bring them down. As with all Eastwood movies, “Richard Jewell” is competent, workmanlike and well-acted. But “Richard Jewell” never quite captures the compelling dynamic of its fascinating subject.

 

Also opening this week, “Jumanji: The Next Level” is a sequel to the 2017 hit “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle,” which was, in turn, a sequel to the Robin Williams’ original from 1995. Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Karen Gillan and Nick Jonas are all back, along with Awkwafina, in an adventure tale that takes our players back into the world’s most dangerous game. ”Black Christmas” the third version of the slasher flick that first appeared in 1974. This time out, Imogen Poots leads the cast in the grisly story of sorority sisters stalked by a mysterious assailant.


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