Richard Jewell: How To “Blow Up” A Man’s Life!

I am a huge fan of Clint Eastwood directed films. Three of my favorites are “Mystic River” (2003), “Million Dollar Baby” (2004), and “Gran Torino” (2008). “Richard Jewell” is not quite as good as those three, but it’s a terrific movie telling a true story. It will easily get into my Top 20 for 2019 and could even sneak into my Top 10! I consider this film to be a MUST-SEE!

Richard Jewell (Paul Walter Hauser) is a loser. He is super-obese and has a low-paying job as a college security guard. He wants to be a police officer, so he acts like one. He is consequently over-zealous enforcing rules with the college students, so he gets fired. He then has to move in with his mother, Bobi (Kathy Bates).

A few years later, at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Richard lands a temporary gig with AT&T working at Centennial Park by the music pavilion. He comes on too strong as well there, but, in the course of doing so, finds a pipe-bomb hidden under a bench. He notifies the bomb squad and helps to clear the area as best he can. The bomb goes off, but Richard finding the bomb before it exploded saved many lives. Immediately, Richard becomes a national hero and is even a guest on Katie Couric’s TV show! Someone even calls him about a book deal.

Richard calls G. Watson Bryant (Sam Rockwell), an attorney who treated him well at a prior job, to help him with the possible book deal. Suddenly, Jewell is the “hottest thing since sliced bread.”

Tom Shaw (Jon Hamm) is the FBI agent who was responsible for the safety of the people at Centennial Park. He feels guilty, embarrassed, humiliated, enraged, and ashamed about the bombing that took place on his watch. The only way he can save face is to figure out who the bomber is – the sooner the better. Shaw’s turmoil about his humiliation blinds him to the truth.

Unfortunately for Richard, he fits the profile of the typical bomber. The FBI immediately singles him out as the primary suspect, without even one shred of evidence against him. A very pretty reporter for the “Atlanta Journal Constitution,” Kathy Scruggs (Olivia Wilde), seduces Shaw into leaking information about Jewell being the target of the FBI investigation, in exchange for a hook-up. She then publishes the story that Jewell is the main suspect and Richard and Bobi’s lives then become a living hell.

Richard calls on Bryant to represent him. The abuse of power by the FBI and the irresponsibility of Scruggs and the media are amply displayed. The film will enrage you as you watch how Richard and his mother are brutally victimized.

This movie may have the best ensemble cast of 2019. Hauser and Bates turn in AAW performances. Rockwell is one of our greatest actors, but his part isn’t very demanding. Wilde (“Something Like Olivia” – John Mayer) is also terrific, as is Hamm.

Bottom Line: Richard Jewell is a ‘gem!’