Film Review: "Richard Jewell" (2019).

"The world will know his name and the truth." This is Richard Jewell. This biographical drama film directed by Clint Eastwood, written by Billy Ray, and based on the 1997 Vanity Fair article American Nightmare: The Ballad of Richard Jewell by Marie Brenner. During the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, security guard Richard Jewell discovers a suspicious backpack under a bench in Centennial Park. With little time to spare, he helps to evacuate the area until the incendiary device inside the bag explodes. Hailed as a hero who saved lives, Jewell's own life starts to unravel when the FBI names him the prime suspect in the bombing.

In February 2014, the project was initially announced when Leonardo DiCaprio and Jonah Hill teamed to produce the film, with Hill set to play Jewell, and DiCaprio set to play the lawyer who helped Jewell navigate the media blitz that surrounded him. The project was initially set up at 20th Century Fox. Paul Greengrass began negotiations to direct the film, with Ray penning the script. However, Greengrass chose to do Jason Bourne (2016) instead. David O. Russell was eventually approached for the project, but a deal never developed. In April 2015, Eastwood began to circle the project as his follow up to Sully (2016), but Eastwood chose to direct The 15:17 to Paris (2018) instead. In December 2016, Ezra Edelman signed on to direct as his directorial narrative feature film debut, but dropped out in late 2018 after not getting it off the ground. In May 2019, Eastwood signed back on to direct. Additionally, DiCaprio and Hill dropped out of starring due to scheduling conflicts, though they remained as producers. In May 2019, Warner Bros. acquired the film rights from Fox. By June, Paul Walter Hauser was cast as Jewell, with Sam Rockwell, Kathy Bates, Jon Hamm, and Olivia Wilde rounding out the film's cast. At the same time, principal photography commenced, and wrapped in late August. Filming took place at the historic locations in Atlanta, Georgia.

The film stars Hauser, Rockwell, Bates, Hamm, and Wilde. Terrific performances were given by the cast that conveyed a vigorous and involving salute to professionalism and being good at your job. The cast earns your attention and respect by digging deep, by finding the fear and self-doubt inside a man who'd never accept being defined as a hero. This is Hauser's show, and he delivers a strong performance, quickly allowing us to forget that we're watching an actor. With his large, beefy physique and moustache to match, Hauser conveys a man confident in his abilities, yet humble in his actions, which could also be said of Eastwood as a director.

Richard Jewell is a beautifully balanced, classily nuanced and hugely engaging film that avoids all the clichéd pitfalls it could have slipped into. Hauser gives the best performance of his career and Eastwood's direction is beautiful and rich. It's not just a great film, it is one of the best pieces of cinema that a major Hollywood studio has released this year.

Simon says Richard Jewell receives:

Also, see my review for The Mule.