The movie "Focus" truly restored the "Focus" report team of the "Boston Globe". After many years, it deeply disclosed the indecent behavior of priests and sexually assaulted children. With the deepening of the investigation and the expansion of clues, the snowball became darker and darker. The truth began to reveal itself. In order to cover up the crimes, the clergy used various means and methods to cover up. From a few severe social incidents to social problems related to the entire religious corruption system, it was difficult to let go of the victims and those who understood the truth. For religious believers, God has died in a paradise of disillusionment, and the unbearable truth has strangled the sacred faith. From the perspective of others from an objective perspective, it is always preaching to save the people from suffering, give spiritual comfort, and join hands to the light. The complete collapse of the religious system was shocking.
This movie obviously fits the tastes of the rigid and rigorous old men of Oscars. It is full of impact and social significance. It has mainstream values that correctly guides and has no flaws. It gathers goodwill and justice. It has the courage to expose the impulse of the dark forces and show it. As a journalist should have professional ethics and qualities, actors are very dedicated and integrated with the role setting, which will automatically block their classic screen images that have been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. A wonderful group performance, everyone's light is very conspicuous, brilliant and balanced, a movie that can't be a bone in an egg, it is dripping, and it is expected to have depth and attention.
But as a film that relies on and is based on facts, it is still conservative in itself, and the facts must be respected. Once more subjective processing and discussion are done, it will only attract unnecessary criticism. To stand out successfully, there are generally two keys to victory. One is to focus on the shocking story itself, and the other is to rely on the strong acting skills of the actors to add the finishing touch to a plot that falls into a reasonable category but lacks surprises. "Both of these are basically perfect. There are enough to stir up waves, ignite topics, provoke controversial sensitive events, and attract attention. Super high-star actors are equipped as the hottest winners of the awards season. If the prize is soft, it becomes an inevitable result.
There have been many films who spare no effort in writing and paying attention to length, undisguisedly questioning and criticizing religion sharply. The aura and gospel given by religion are no longer holy and beautiful, but have become effective in hiding dirt and dirt. Disguise and shelter have become an important bargaining chip for many people who like to take advantage of the loopholes to satisfy themselves and seek benefits. They use the faithful believers and the thick and beautiful religious background as easy power and tools to cover up. This is also the "Focus In ", many people who are afraid of avoiding it dare not confront and expose the reasons.
Religious culture with a strong historical accumulation is like a double-edged sword, which can easily extend to two extremes, darkness and light. Once the sacred cloak falls into a negative situation, the consequences are unimaginable, and it can easily become a beneficial capital for selfishness and growth. , As the lawyer said in the film: "One Heart" can educate and destroy others. In other words, "Unity of all people" can sometimes be beautiful and terrifying, and it can easily evolve into an irresistible external pressure and public opinion, causing the disadvantaged people to choose helpless silence. Compared with previous works that have devoted themselves to fiction, adaptation, and fabrication to expose and criticize the evils of religion, the focus or advantage of Focus lies in its unquestionable authenticity.
A lot of ugly and dirty truths are actually hidden in the surrounding area. The film is only across the street from the newspaper. The school where editor Robbie once studied, and the community where reporter Matt lives, there are priests on the blacklist, and they have never known anything. Later, the indignation and fear, like them, will be affected by reality and chilling, as Robbie hinted in the conversation with school leaders: danger has always been with you. The reason why we are not harmed is just because We are just lucky. It also drove the audience’s sense of participation and experienced life crises and social issues that cannot be taken lightly. At the same time, it also reflected the positive role that the media should play in the social process. Journalists and editors must grasp the profession of seeking truth from facts and fearing power. Ethics.
Many ugly truths that are tightly packaged, tried every means to cover up, and that people can’t bear to look directly at it, have to rely on media platforms that dare to break free from the oppression and restrictions of the system, and report to full exposure in a fair, true, and serious manner. The people recognized the facts and saw a glimmer of justice in the bad social phenomena and atmosphere full of corruption and deception. On the other hand, Robbie finally bluntly confessed his negligence to his colleagues, and also made people realize that one thing was ignored. Behind the events of underestimation and underestimation, there are often real problems that continue to fester, deteriorate and grow. Rampant and arrogant evil forces will continue to spread and erode, resulting in immeasurable and regrettable results. It reminds everyone that they need to stay sharp and vigilant at all times. And consciousness must not be lost.
It's a pity that in China, which is bound by hands, few directors are motivated to put such reports on the screen, because this is still a thankless task that goes against mainstream viewing trends and political needs. This film was taken smoothly, avoiding too many factors that would cause misunderstanding and blurring of focus, such as not focusing on specific performance or deliberately magnifying the painful experience of the victim and the bad behavior of the clergy, but looking at the problem from a neutral and outsider perspective From the shallower to the deeper, from the outside to the inside, it brings more reflection and enlightenment, and emphasizes on relying on actual action and dialogue to prove the facts.
In the 128-minute film length, director Thomas McCarthy highly restored the ins and outs of the "Focus on Colleagues" investigation process, from reading a large number of briefings and few reports, contacting and interviewing victims, and then going deeper. Understand the victim’s organization SNAP, and begged the lawyers who were intimidated by power and powerless to entrust lawyers and the attorneys who participated in helping priests (churches) to reconcile privately for profit, as well as the former priests occupational therapists who devoted themselves to the study of the priest’s sick psychology and mental state, a family Visits and visits one by one, trying to find and collect evidence that has been deliberately hidden, sealed, and erased. Even if they are ruthlessly rejected and questioned, they cannot stop them from insisting on seeing 9.11, which seems to be more newsworthy. The pace of action and the motivation of being guided by conscience are racing against each other amidst the urgency and urgency, and never give up the bottom line of compromise.
In the process, the priests who know so much that they are staggering use their sacred duties to extend their magical claws to those children born in poverty and lack of love, using God’s name and character weaknesses to leave their bodies and minds with irreparable wounds. Pain, seeing that the cardinals who know righteous words actually help those priests get rid of crime, the frightening hypocrisy, gloom and corruption of the religious system, understand the loopholes and unfairness of the law, and the biased justice driven by interests People and systems, as well as lawyers caught in a dilemma, from the different reactions of different people in the face of this series of events, mixed with torture and scrutiny of human nature and morality, after a sharp and decisive one-size-fits-all approach by "Spotlight" , Showing a lot of cross-sections for people to think and face, which have been deliberately concealed and deceived.
Of course, from the reporters and editors who are busy in the old office environment in the new millennium, people can also see the independence, restraint and rationality that a media person should have. He has the courage to move forward, carefully interviews and reports, has a valuable conscience and perseverance, is worthy of a competent handling attitude, and has the ability to see the essence of the facts, put aside his subjective identity, control personal emotions and consider everything. Seeing the follow-up developments and explanations that were densely played at the end, I believe that many people will not help but erect their hairs. Similar incidents and even uglier social phenomena in the world are still fermenting and repeating. We also need to rely on more conscience and knowledge. Justice and responsible media forces invest more in-depth understanding, attention and exploration to build stronger credibility.
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