A streaming fan has highlighted a film recently added to Netflix, calling it a 'must watch.' The 2019 movie, directed by Clint Eastwood, stars Kathy Bates, Jon Hamm, Sam Rockwell, and Olivia Wilde. It is based on a true story.
TikTok Recommendation
EccyReviews, who has 440,000 followers on TikTok, regularly recommends films and TV shows. He posted a video about the film, saying: 'If you only watch one film on Netflix this week, you need to make sure it's this one. It's a massively underrated film which I'll be very surprised if you've seen.'
He continued: 'The film that I am talking about is called Richard Jewell. Now, this is based on a true story. It released back in 2019, and it's only two hours long, and this will be one of the easiest and best watches you have all year. It is directed by the incredible Clint Eastwood, and this tells the story of Richard Jewell, the security guard who, one day, at this gig, in the middle of the public, a person drops a bag on the floor which is very suspicious, and when he decides to call it in, it is actually a bomb. They evacuate the area, he saves so many lives, however he is actually accused of planting the bomb.'
'Now, this tells a story of this backlash this man got to actually saving people's lives and it is an inspiring but heartbreaking story which will infuriate you, but I'm telling you right now, you will love this film. I highly recommend you go and check it out.'
True Story Background
Richard Jewell is based on a real-life bombing that occurred in July 1996. A pipe bomb detonated inside Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, Georgia, during the Olympics, killing one person and injuring 111 others. A cameraman also died of a heart attack while rushing to the scene.
After the attack, Richard Jewell, who first discovered the bomb, was investigated by the FBI as a suspect, which was widely reported by the media. The film stars Paul Walter Hauser as Jewell. Originally, Leonardo DiCaprio and Jonah Hill were set to star, but they remained as producers.
Critical Reception
Richard Jewell has a 77% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and a 96% audience score. One viewer said: 'It starts off a little slow and awkward, but really picks up as it goes. Kathy Bates is fully worthy of her Oscar nomination and Paul Walter Hauser is also fantastic as the titular character.'
Another added: 'A well-acted film that tells a story that needs to be known. It’s even more relevant today than it was when it happened.' However, some found it 'very slow-moving and boring.'
