Kill the Messenger

Kill the Messenger

2014 "Can you keep a national secret?"
Kill the Messenger
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Kill the Messenger
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Kill the Messenger

6.9 | 1h52m | R | en | Drama

A reporter becomes the target of a vicious smear campaign that drives him to the point of suicide after he exposes the CIA's role in arming Contra rebels in Nicaragua and importing cocaine into California. Based on the true story of journalist Gary Webb.

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6.9 | 1h52m | R | en | Drama , Thriller , Crime | More Info
Released: October. 10,2014 | Released Producted By: Focus Features , Bluegrass Films Country: United States of America Budget: 0 Revenue: 0 Official Website:
Synopsis

A reporter becomes the target of a vicious smear campaign that drives him to the point of suicide after he exposes the CIA's role in arming Contra rebels in Nicaragua and importing cocaine into California. Based on the true story of journalist Gary Webb.

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Cast

Jeremy Renner , Mary Elizabeth Winstead , Michael Sheen

Director

John Paino

Producted By

Focus Features , Bluegrass Films

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Reviews

silver_rado2001 This all the beginning of the end of the free press in america with REAGAN don't think he killed himself
denis888 Well, what wiill I say here? Jeremy Renner is a very decent and strong actor, he can deliver depth and seriousness with a very gentle and exact touch. He sees to be a very tough and deep actor, yet when the film is of secondary rank and of dubious merit, the great cast (like in this movie, there is an outstanding array of talents, including Garcia, Patrick, Winstead among others). The story of Gary Webb's Dark Alliance seems like another swell sweet to crack, yet it ain't fly. All the potential of the plot was broken against wrong pacing, awkward dialog, too hasty jumps, and on top of that, too blatant a message which was not only shoved and placed into our mouths but also chewed and swallowed - Webb is The man, the official guys are evil. Too obvious a propaganda step. Abother drawback which spoiled it all was a very open and obvious mimicking Oliver Stone's Nixon style of narrative. Come on, guys we have seen it before, only he did it better than you.
Danny Blankenship "Kill the Messenger" is a pretty well done film that's provocative and soul searching that uncovers hidden lies as the federal government has a dirty little game a drug for guns profit! Most remember the headlines and the scandal from the 1980's and 1990's when it was revealed that the CIA was arming rebels in Nicaragua to help fight other countries and foreign agencies all while turning the other way and letting them profit by importing and selling cocaine in the United States. Thru it all as each detail is uncovered with anger this political drama is carried by the performance of Jeremy Renner as Gary Webb a hard charging investigative reporter from California as he tries to prove that the CIA used cocaine profits to fund Contra rebels this tale explodes with suspense and personal drama really it's an eye opening political thriller.
eddie_baggins One of those true life stories that is sadly more intriguing than it's big screen treatment, Kill the Messenger is a middle of the road drama/thriller that for any number of reasons can't break free from its shackles to become anything more than a mildly interesting cautionary tale, despite a decent turn by the in need of a hit Jeremy Renner and a subject matter that is ripe for political commentary.At one time or another positioned for a run in the awards season, Michael Cuesta's film found itself on the end of a low key world wide release that would've completely bypassed some people's memories. Watching the film now it's not hard to see why the film failed to make a splash. From the sombre tone, the uninspired yet workmanlike direction, a wasting of quality supports that range from Michael Sheen through to Michael Kenneth (Chalky White, Omar Little) Williams and a curiously lacking look into the nasty business the CIA was involved in in regard to the South American drug trade, Messenger just doesn't do enough with its real life potent material to come fully to life.I for one must be the first to admit to a lack of knowledge regarding what Messenger deals with and it's in this fact that the most amount of good will stems from, as there's a number of people that want to know more about the shady operations that America gets involved in. Renner's dogged journalist Gary Webb unearths wide ranging and politically juicy facts about drugs being sold to fund various programs and wars and the film comes alive when both Gary and the audience get thrown into situations involving those that were privy to the clandestine operations. It does feel like there was more to unearth in this real life investigation but what is bought forward is enough to drive this film and the viewer's interest without ever becoming truly invested as other films of the same ilk have done in the past.By no means a badly made film, this is a film that will frustrate due to its undeniable potential that remains unreached, Kill the Messenger portrays some incredibly interesting events in a sadly non-incredible way. With another solid if unspectacular lead turn by the worryingly out of sorts Jeremy Renner, Messenger never gets out of first gear and succeeds to the level it does thanks to its real life events it depicts.3 unlucky car windows out of 5