I am not one to be easily convinced about conspiracy theories but the ultra low key release of Kill The Messenger almost makes me think that the CIA are responsible for suppressing it! No press reviews is usually a sign that a terrible film is being released and they want it not to suffer a mauling at the hands of the critics. In this case, that decision and its very limited release is a bit baffling.
Kill The Messenger is a solid, and at times excellent political thriller that deserves much more attention. It tells the true story of Gary Webb, an obscure journalist working on a local newspaper – San Jose Mercury News – in the 1990s. By chance he is provided with an initial piece of evidence that somehow the U.S government is involved, or at least, complicit in the import and distribution of crack cocaine. It is his tenacity and skills as a reporter that uncover the rest of the story, but he is then subject to a dirty tricks campaign by the CIA, aided by the jealous journalists of the major US newspapers and television networks.
Jeremy Renner, who, despite being in a number of lucrative franchises, has not had the stellar career that seemed to be destined for him after The Hurt Locker stars as Webb. This his best performance since that Oscar winning movie. Totally believable in the role of the ambitious, but ethical journalist, and really affecting when his world starts to crumble. As good as he is though, two other performers steal the scenes that they appear in. Michael Sheen conveys compassion for Webb so well in just two brief appearances, and Mary Elizabeth Winstead is brilliant as Anna, Webb’s editor. You can really see her being torn between trying to remain loyal to her friend and colleague whilst maintaining her authority and trying to placate the paper’s publishers.
It helps if you have prior knowledge of the Nicaraguan Contras scandal, and can remember both the dark days of the Reagan presidency and the buffoon Oliver North, and the film pleasingly doesn’t spell out the story in its simplest terms. Even without that knowledge this is a mostly gripping and powerful story. It doesn’t quite reach the status of a truly classic political thriller like Missing or All the President’s Men because there is a little too much time spent on Webb’s family life at the expense of the main story. Webb is warned that once he publishes the story and the CIA go after him, he will become the story. It is a shame, therefore, the film makers decided to make Webb’s personal life so central to the story rather than concentrate more on the scandalous events.
It may be a hard film to find, but it is well worth tracking it down.
Rating: 8 out of 10