Richard Jewell (2019)

The Richard Jewell we're shown here is two things: a bully in his security guard jobs and excessively compliant when it comes to those who have authority over him. He seems to want to be a cop because he believes that he, too, will get the kind of respect he shows once he's wearing the badge. And that's probably the answer to why so many cops are dicks right there.

So, Jewell finds a pipe bomb in a backpack in a crowded park, is hailed as a hero and then turns into a suspect. Which seems reasonable to me. It sucks, but it's reasonable. Clint Eastwood apparently does not think it's reasonable and wants us to hate the reporters who reported it (turning one into a literal whore for story tips) and the FBI who investigated the guy with a history of being threatening on the job, owns dozens of guns, lives with his mother, and is mocked by co-workers. Ugh.

It's a simple-minded movie that has no business being discussed as a prestige pic.

D+