Le Cas Richard Jewell

Une œuvre cinématographique réalisée, comme il se doit, de main de maître par un Clint Eastwood ici âgé de quatre-vingt-neuf ans. Rien de surprenant du côté de l’action et on peut même deviner dès le début où va nous mener la logique du film. Mais ça ne fait rien : Eastwood parvient à raconter, sur une durée de plus de deux heures, une histoire pleine d’humanité qui nous captive du début à la fin. On y découvre Richard Jewell, un gaffeur idéaliste qui n’en a pas moins le cœur sur la main – et qui gagne ainsi celui (le cœur) du public. Et Paul Walter Hauser, l’acteur qui le représente, forme un tandem emballant avec Sam Rockwell dans la peau de l’avocat carnassier. (23/01/2020)

A confident Clint Eastwood serves up another compelling true story that is intense and suspenseful from start to finish, and Sam Rockwell has another perfect supporting role! (After Jojo Rabbit for the second time this year). Well acted, interestingly shot, emotional towards the end and overall a very entertaining piece of work where I kept my hands clenched for the entire running time. Praise should also be given to the nasty detective Jon Hamm, the bitchy reporter played by Olivia Wilde, and the unknown Paul Walter Hauser, who also gives a great performance. I hope it's not Eastwood’s last film. 8/10. (06/02/2020)

Richard Jewell is the kind of character only the USA seems capable of producing. What’s worse is how the American secret service, whether knowingly or not, fuels the paranoia of conspiracy theorists and eccentrics with their public actions. It's no surprise that the average American might trust wild theories over the government’s official stance. Clint Eastwood has once again found a brilliant story and directed it with the kind of craftsmanship that's hard to fault. From the gripping atmosphere to the stellar performances, everything hits the mark. Paul Walter Hauser, Sam Rockwell, Kathy Bates, and Jon Hamm all deliver outstanding work. I’d mention Olivia Wilde too, but she’s barely in it, which is a shame. Richard Jewell is a solid piece of classic American filmmaking—something we’re seeing less of these days. (24/01/2021)

When I write that I find Clint Eastwood to be the most admirable filmmaker working today, you might think I'm mainly admiring the fact that he's still making movies on the cusp of 90. And he's doing it so well. That's certainly true, but I admire him even more for the subjects he chooses and how he handles them. Richard Jewell is another one of his "ordinary heroes" who lived through something that you wouldn't quite want to believe if it hadn't really happened. However, unlike Sully Sullenberger, who was "only" in danger of losing his career, Richard Jewell stands in front of the electric chair and, thanks to the fact that he is actually an overgrown child of principle and looks up to the law enforcement officials without bounds, slowly and willingly sits in that chair himself. The story is wonderfully scary. Without exception superbly acted (if I had to single anyone out, P. W. Hauser would be my favorite chameleon aside from Sam Rockwell) and most importantly so beautifully told, in a slow balladic manner with occasional light relief in the form of sensitive humor that both puts the viewer at ease and highlights the absurdity of the whole situation. Wonderful. (17/01/2020)

Another finely tuned wow from Clint. This smooth-gliding story is further augmented by the acting performances. Powerhouse Sam Rockwell props up Houser in every scene they have together, making the times when Richard gets pissed even more impressive. Olivia Wilde, representing the media, could very easily have fallen into clichés, but in the end she actually rocks, and Hamm as an amoral FBI asshole is the embodiment of everything that you hate about the powers that be. In the end, this turns into an average guy vs. the government and the media battle, but it’s shot with such grace that I am giving it the fifth star. Movies where neither the government nor the media are right are always satisfying to watch. Especially these days. (18/11/2020)