It’s tough being a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist… and that’s no joke. This adaptation of the true story of investigative writer Gary Webb shows the driven reporter discovering the cover up of a lifetime, but struggling to get his message heard. As a thriller, Kill the Messenger doesn’t quite gets the heart-pounding, yet it is still an engaging story featuring strong performances.
In the 1990s, San Jose Mercury News crime reporter Gary Webb (Jeremy Renner) made a startling discovery, as depicted in the first portion of this film. It follows the reporter into Nicaragua as he investigates the proliferation of crack cocaine trafficking into the United States. After several interviews, he comes to the conclusion that the CIA-backed revolutionary faction known as the Contras were heavily involved in the US drug trade. Even worse, the government bureau knew about it and chose to do nothing (as these illegal sales were funding the military operations of the rebels).
While the first half of the film is competent enough, it’s the second half where events get considerably more interesting. Naturally, Webb thinks he’s written the story of a lifetime, but events take a turn for the worse. Suspicious government agents being shadowing his family. His home life suffers as personal information is revealed to the public. Even his writing is misquoted, leading to suspicion and attack from all sides. As events progress, Webb is told that the CIA and media will turn all of the focus upon him and to divert attention away from the issues he’s raising. Ultimately, this film displays how an average man’s life and character can be assassinated by the media in a matter of days.
Renner makes for a flawed but likable protagonist who experiences a variety of emotional turns. The role requires the actor to movie from earnest do-gooder into angry and paranoid outcast. He handles the transition expertly and even has a great scene that requires hints of dejection and righteous anger while giving a speech to other members of the press. The movie also benefits from strong actors in numerous supporting roles. Some are co-workers and some are informants who only appear for a scene or two, but all are played by familiar faces. The list includes Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Paz Vega, Michael Sheen, Ray Liotta, Oliver Platt, Andy Garcia and Robert Patrick.
Yet, while it’s all decent, at times the movie isn’t as exciting as it could be. Webb’s life is at risk during the investigation, yet with one exception we don’t get a palpable sense of the danger involved. And although the movie is competently shot, there isn’t much about the style of the film that is memorable. One wishes it had been a little more dynamic in its presentation. Director Michael Cuesta (Homeland, Six Feet Under, Dexter) has a long list of TV show credits. Visually, this production resembles more of an HBO movie than a cinematic experience.
Even if it isn’t as energized as it could have been, Kill the Messenger still tells an worthwhile story and makes an important point. Although all the information was later admitted by government authorities to be true, at the time everyone involved chose to turn on one of their own and allowed criminal behavior to be swept under the rug. It’s good to see some exceptional actors at least provide some service to a journalist who never really got his due.