Richard Jewell

Richard Jewell tells the true story of a heroic soul who becomes the unwitting focal point of the nation's attention following a devastating terrorist attack at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. The film revolves around Richard Jewell (played by Paul Bettany), a well-meaning and diligent security guard who is on duty when a series of pipe bombs explode at Centennial Olympic Park, killing two people and injuring hundreds. As the scene unfolds, the events leading up to the terror incident show Richard as a competent and diligent individual, meticulously performing his duties as a security officer. He is aware of every nook and cranny of the park and quickly understands that something is amiss. Richard makes a split-second decision to evacuate the crowd, which leads to the relatively low number of casualties. He is hailed as a hero and an average construction worker named Bob Andersen comments that, "I'd hire that boy." However, as the investigation begins, Richard Jewell becomes an unlikely suspect in the eyes of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The lead investigator, Tom Shaw (played by Jon Hamm), starts questioning Richard, focusing on his character and past. Shaw becomes increasingly fixated on linking Richard to the heinous crime, largely based on evidence that appears coincidental or circumstantial, such as a minor discrepancy in his account of the events and some incriminating notes written by a friend. The investigation gets off to a shaky start as journalists, particularly Kathryn Roselle "KBJ" Bouffard (played by Kathy Bates) and Gary Mitchell (played by Sam Rockwell), begin writing sensational headlines about Richard's behavior, propelling the country into a sense of fear and security paranoia. This raises further public hysteria and media pressure ultimately fall sway to bias and hate-mongering due to Richard not revealing more information at first instead of taking a hostile approach with investigators. The inaccurate media coverage negatively affects Richard's life, ultimately stripping him of his dignity and leaving him anxious and isolated. He is unable to defend himself due to a public that has been swayed by the media frenzy. The FBI investigation grows in scope and scrutiny of Richard, still trying to piece together a case even after the very initial and weakest claims against Richard show up as nothing more than rumor or exaggeration. Finally, evidence is eventually discovered linking Richard to the actual bomber, Eric Rudolph, whose motive was rooted in opposition to abortion and the government. The FBI is forced to correct their blunders, issue an official apology to Richard, and acknowledge the devastating impact of their mistake. As the truth comes to light, Richard's life is altered forever. His brief moment of heroism has given way to prolonged public scrutiny and attacks on his character, causing a corrosive self-doubt in his once unbreakable spirit. Despite the redemption that follows in the case, the media has drawn from the initial story of heroism and mayhem too extensively, causing the world now to remember primarily Richard Jewell the exonerated suspect rather than the exonerated innocent hero he once was. The climactic confrontation and Richard's vindication, both inside and outside the courtroom, do little to alleviate his emotional suffering. Ultimately, the spotlight has faded from Richard Jewell, that of a true hero now but a man irreparably wounded by the harsh media storm and, indirectly, FBI incompetence.