As a newspaper drama, 'Spotlight' is available for home views

By Noel Murray
Los Angeles Times
February 20, 2016

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-ca-mn-new-releases-spotlight-good-dinosaur-20160221-story.html

Michael Keaton in "Spotlight." Photo by Kerry Hayes

One of the best newspaper dramas ever made, the multi-Oscar-nominated film is based on the true story of a Boston Globe investigative reporting team that uncovered a pattern of sexual abuse and hush-money payoffs within their local Catholic diocese. Writer-director Tom McCarthy and co-writer Josh Singer look into the decay of venerable institutions, like the church, the government that protected priests "for the good of the community" and a press shedding necessary resources in the Internet age. The film avoids big speeches and instead just watches as a talented cast (including Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo and Rachel McAdams) inhabits the roles of diligent professionals doing some of the most important work of their lives. The "Spotlight" DVD and Blu-ray offers strong follow-up with a trio of featurettes that look at the movie, its source material and the future of journalism.