The true story of how the Boston Globe uncovered the massive scandal of child molestation and cover-up within the local Catholic Archdiocese, shaking the entire Catholic Church to its core.

Credits: TheMovieDb.

Film Cast:

• Michael Rezendes: Mark Ruffalo
• Walter “Robby” Robinson: Michael Keaton
• Sacha Pfeiffer: Rachel McAdams
• Marty Baron: Liev Schreiber
• Ben Bradlee Jr.: John Slattery
• Mitchell Garabedian: Stanley Tucci
• Matt Carroll: Brian d’Arcy James
• Steve Kurkjian: Gene Amoroso
• Eric Macleish: Billy Crudup
• Eileen McNamara: Maureen Keiller
• Peter Conley: Paul Guilfoyle
• Cardinal Law: Len Cariou
• Phil Saviano: Neal Huff
• Joe Crowley: Michael Cyril Creighton
• Judge Sweeney: Laurie Heineman
• Principal Bill Kemeza: Tim Progosh
• Barbara: Elena Wohl
• Peter Canellos: Doug Murray
• Helen Donovan: Sharon McFarlane
• Jim Sullivan: Jamey Sheridan
• Court Clerk Mark: Robert B. Kennedy
• Hansi Kalkofen: Duane Murray
• Paul Burke: Brian Chamberlain
• Richard Gilman: Michael Countryman
• Young Cop: Tim Whalen
• Sports Editor: Brad Borbridge
• Bishop: Don Allison
• Linda: Patty Ross
• Garabedian’s Receptionist: Paloma Nuñez
• Judge Volterra: Robert Clarke
• Jack Dunn: Gary Galone
• Jon Albano: David Fraser
• Receptionist at Judge’s Chambers: Paulette Sinclair
• Guest List Woman: Elena Juatco
• Maryetta Dussourd: Nancy Villone
• Female Editor: Wendy Merry
• Intern: Siobhan Murphy
• Sacha’s Grandmother: Eileen Padua
• Middle Age Priest at St. Peter’s: Darrin Baker
• Older Cop: Joe Stapleton
• Patrick McSorley: Jimmy LeBlanc
• Waiter at Gala: Neion George
• Wilson Rogers: Laurie Murdoch
• Intern Wanda: Zarrin Darnell-Martin
• Young Reporter: Krista Morin
• Jim’s Wife: Paula Barrett
• Stewart: Mairtin O’Carrigan
• Herald Reporter Quimby: Rob de Leeuw
• Jane Paquin: Nancy E. Carroll
• Kevin: Anthony Paolucci
• Lisa Tuite: Michele Proude
• Ronald Paquin: Richard O’Rourke
• Clerk O’Brian: Dennis Lynch
• Sheila: Stefanie Drummond
• Weeping Man: Mark McGrinder
• Rectory Priest: Richard Fitzpatrick
• Disgruntled Man: Tom Driscoll
• Library Security: Jeffrey Samai
• Woman Interviewee: Moira Driscoll
• Angry Man: Forrest Weber
• Older Southie Woman: Doreen Spencer
• Receptionist: Janet Pinnick
• Receptionist: Shannon McDonough
• Girl at Garabedian’s: Shannon Ruth
• Boy at Garabedian’s: Daniel Ruth
• Mother at Garabedian’s: Jennifer Ruth
• Bad Priest: Timothy Mooney
• Boston Globe Security Guard: Bruce-Robert Serafin
• Angry Man’s Sister: Donna Sue Jahier
• Red Sox Announcer: Edward Brickley
• Middle Aged Man: Brett Cramp
• Richard Sipe (voice) (uncredited): Richard Jenkins
• Pedestrian (uncredited): John Franchi
• Cop in Coffee Shop: Martin Roach
• Boston Reporter: Elena Khan
• Maureen: Teresa Wilson
• Pedestrian (uncredited): Amy Whalen
• Red Sox Fan (uncredited): Peter Lewis Walsh
• Driver (uncredited): Lance Norris

Film Crew:

• Producer: Steve Golin
• Original Music Composer: Howard Shore
• Casting: Kerry Barden
• Executive Producer: Jonathan King
• Editor: Tom McArdle
• Writer: Tom McCarthy
• Key Hair Stylist: Brenda McNally
• Casting: Paul Schnee
• Costume Design: Wendy Chuck
• Executive Producer: Jeff Skoll
• Sound Designer: Paul Hsu
• Producer: Michael Sugar
• Executive Producer: Tom Ortenberg
• Set Decoration: Shane Vieau
• Executive Producer: Xavier Marchand
• Foley: Marko Costanzo
• ADR Editor: Marissa Littlefield
• Gaffer: Morris Flam
• Director of Photography: Masanobu Takayanagi
• First Assistant Editor: Andrew Pang
• Casting: Jason Knight
• Makeup Department Head: Jordan Samuel
• Key Hair Stylist: Cathy Shibley
• Casting: John Buchan
• First Assistant Director: Walter Gasparovic
• Stunt Coordinator: Bobby Beckles
• Production Design: Stephen H. Carter
• Executive Producer: Michael Bederman
• Steadicam Operator: Gilles Corbeil
• Still Photographer: Kerry Hayes
• Writer: Josh Singer
• Visual Effects Supervisor: Colin Davies
• Stunt Coordinator: Jeffrey Lee Gibson
• Foley: Frank Kern
• Costume Supervisor: Virginia B. Johnson
• Costume Supervisor: Kathleen Meade
• Costume Supervisor: Robyn Rosenberg
• Property Master: Christopher Geggie
• Script Supervisor: Dug Rotstein
• Set Decoration: Vanessa Knoll
• Visual Effects Producer: Neishaw Ali
• Stunt Coordinator: Branko Racki
• Set Designer: William Cheng
• Music Editor: Jennifer Dunnington
• Visual Effects Producer: Christa Tazzeo
• Camera Operator: Henry Tirl
• Dialect Coach: Jessica Drake
• Gaffer: Tom Starnes
• Hair Department Head: Karola Dirnberger
• Art Department Coordinator: Dusty Reeves
• Co-Producer: Kate Churchill
• Dialogue Editor: Branka Mrkic
• Makeup Artist: Nichole Pleau
• Still Photographer: Seacia Pavao
• Music Editor: Chad Birmingham
• Visual Effects Editor: Brandon Terry
• Hairstylist: Kelly Shanks
• Script Supervisor: Jenna Dayton
• Digital Intermediate: Philippe Majdalani
• Assistant Costume Designer: Renee Fontana
• Sound Effects Editor: Heather Gross
• Music Supervisor: Mary Ramos
• Executive Producer: Pierre Omidyar
• Executive Producer: Bard Dorros
• Executive Producer: Peter Lawson
• Producer: Nicole Rocklin
• Producer: Blye Pagon Faust
• Makeup Artist: Mario Cacioppo
• CG Supervisor: Ahmed Shehata
• Co-Producer: Youtchi von Lintel
• Associate Producer: David Mizner
• Stunt Driver: Shawnna Thibodeau
• First Assistant Camera: Patrick Stepien
• First Assistant Camera: Joseph Micomonaco
• Casting Associate: Matt Bouldry
• Casting Associate: Joey Montenarello
• Casting Associate: Adam Richards
• Casting Associate: Maura Smith
• Set Costumer: Taryn Walsh
• First Assistant Camera: Greg Wimer
• Rigging Gaffer: Jason Dodds
• Rigging Gaffer: James R. Mitchell
• Rigging Grip: Daryl Richardson
• Visual Effects Coordinator: Kayla Cabral
• Visual Effects Editor: Mike Barber
• Art Direction: Michaela Cheyne
• Makeup Artist: Patricia Keighran
• Visual Effects Coordinator: Edward Hanrahan
• Set Dresser: Jeff Poulis
• Production Coordinator: Elspeth Cassar
• Set Designer: John MacNeil
• Set Dresser: Karl Denniston Brown
• Set Dresser: Nathan Alexander Kirk
• Set Dresser: Don McQueen
• Set Dresser: Toni Wong
• Visual Effects Supervisor: Mike Duffy
• Dialect Coach: Stephen Gabis

Movie Reviews:

• Reno: > Uncovering the sins committed by whom the millions of people believe in.

  A documentary film would show the real faces of those offenders to shame them. That’s the reason I desperately wanted it to be a documentary, then I would have definitely given a maximum mark. There’s no complaint about this movie, but adaptation means fakes acting, fake settings and awards goes to non real achievers. Anyway, this movie kind looked a semi documentary and liked the way it was made.

  The movie exposed a very important scandal. If something is open for a debate in the US means, the rest of the world would follow the same route. That’s where this theme was inspired by. It all begins with a group of journalists from the Boston Globe with their new editor instruct them to research on sexual abuse of children by priests. So their lead only gets bigger and puts them to recover more evidence in order to publish. How they come up with the story that shake up not only the nation, but the entire world is the remaining.

  A collection of bunch fine performances. There’s no lead actors in this. Everyone is in the supporting roles. Out of 6, it got nominated both male and female in the category of supporting role for the Academy Awards. I am very disappointed, Mark Ruffalo’s performance in ‘Infinitely Polar Bear’ deserved another nominee. Anyway, this 15 year old story still looks a hot topic. It was a great comeback for the director after critics assaulted him with their words for his previous film ‘The Cobbler’ only to show their rage on Sandler. It is a must-must see. Beware, is is not your weekend entertainer, but based on the real.

  8/10

• Andres Gomez: Spotlight story is interesting and has a good cast which performs very well, but the feeling of the story is flat.

  First, they are talking about abuses to children but you feel almost the whole time that they are following the lead of any other story almost as bureaucrats. There is not much of sensitivity put into the matter.

  Second, they are exposing a huge case of system “missbehavior” (to say the least) in the Catholic Church hierarchy and you see how the whole city of Boston is treating this institution with great care. Then, this movie is about showing to the world how the exposition was done and the treatment to the Catholic Church is almost as exquisite as the one that has enabled this institution to hide all this cases.

  For gods sake! These people are criminals covering the crimes of even bigger criminals and it seems like we still cannot face them and tell them clearly and to their faces the horrible things they have tolerated and hidden.

• mattwilde123: This was a very shocking and well made film. It is about the scandal involving a cover-up of Catholic priests molesting children in the Boston area. I was surprised with the delicate nature of the film’s script and how well it was handled. It had a very solid ensemble cast which helped make the film moving and horrific in parts.

  I am glad that a film like this won Best Picture at the Academy Awards as it had a very important message (even if I was rooting for ‘The Revenant’).

  ★★★★

• Nutshell: A true account of the Boston Globe’s investigative reporting on the vatican’s approval of sexual predator priests over many decades. Disturbing to say the least. Excellent performances from Mark Ruffalo and Michael Keaton. It’s easy for movies like this to get bogged down in the details but the pacing here is remarkably fluid, just a bit over 2 hours very well spent.
• tmdb40011370: A friend recommended this film to me. I was reluctant because I am no big fan of Micheal Keaton. But I watched it anyway purely because of the disturbing subject matter.

  Clearly this cover-up resonates throughout the US a great deal, but living in England for most of my life I don’t think the shocking revelations ever rang out much other than for a random story-line that probably got buried after the immediate events of 9/11.

  I won’t repeat the story here because other reviewers have already covered that; but what I really admired about the film was how very underplayed it felt throughout. The pacing, the somber soundtrack, the unhurried editing, even the narration all helped capture the suffocating mood of the story as it unraveled in shocking detail.

  There was no histrionics that you sometimes get with films that are about to expose something deeply shocking. I am reminded of films such as “The Insider” and “All the President’s Men” where the the lives of the investigators/victims/whistle-blowers are put into immediate danger by a “dark force” should they expose their findings to the public.

  But with Spotlight, such things were avoided. Instead everything was kept at a “civil” level between The Boston Globe and The Church, even though you could feel an underlying dread or threat simmering throughout.

  I particularly liked the ending because even though the story was published and the victims finally came forward before the credits rolled, there was no big fanfare declaring how wonderful the Spotlight team were in exposing this evil. Instead it left us with a reminder that the abuse of children by the RC church was (and probably still is) a world-wide problem; not helped when you learn that Cardinal Law was never arrested, but was later reassigned to a high ranking position in the Vatican, even though both he and the Vatican itself was perfectly aware of the crimes committed by the Church against innocent boys and girls.