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.
Votre Filmothèque
Cast
- Jeremy RennerGary Webb
- Mary Elizabeth WinsteadAnna Simons
- Michael SheenFred Weil
- Ray LiottaJohn Cullen
- Robert PatrickRonny Quail
- Andy GarcíaNorwin Meneses
- Paz VegaCoral Baca
- Michael Kenneth WilliamsRicky Ross
- Rosemarie DeWittSue Webb
- Tim Blake NelsonAlan Fenster
Recommandations
- 80
Variety
The film taps into far deeper, richer veins of material than it has the time to properly mine. It’s nonetheless a flinty, brainy, continually engrossing work that straddles the lines between biopic, political thriller and journalistic cautionary tale, driven by Jeremy Renner’s most complete performance since The Hurt Locker. - 75
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
Renner’s performance — beginning with bluster and descending into twitchy paranoia — sells it and makes us fret for every “messenger” suddenly the target of the spotlight himself. - 70
The Hollywood Reporter
Renner appears completely immersed in his role and when the clouds of doubt accumulate and the man becomes a professional pariah, it's a painful thing to see. - 70
The New Yorker
Jeremy Renner is the main reason to see Kill the Messenger. - 60
The Guardian
It’s a great story that lends itself to some striking scenes. Yet the film in total – if I may paraphrase Webb’s critics – has a number of holes. - 60
Time Out
Seeing as how Kill the Messenger comes down firmly on the side of Webb’s truth, it’s unfortunate that his discoveries are only confirmed via the end credits. Missing from the action, too, is the merest hint of our hero’s demise by suicide in 2004. These aspects should have been better showcased; as is, it’s not the whole story. - 60
Village Voice
It doesn't entirely engage, in part because it's so determined to correct the story that it can't let us explore it ourselves. - 50
The Playlist
Kill The Messenger hopes to solemnly lionize and exonerate Webb, but rarely does it reflect anything back to its audience other than reminding us how corrupt and unprincipled our system is.
