It's difficult to believe that this came out three years ago. As far as films go, what could possibly be more relevant? For those that are not familiar with the subject matter, I won't include any intentional spoilers, but it's pretty compelling.Integrity and ethics are now going extinct in the world of American journalism. Too many gave in to greed and violence, but it's difficult to hold it against those who folded. Some people will attempt to place tremendous pressure on whistleblowers, their families, and apparently anyone around them! Maybe there will come a day when enough people will stand up for integrity and ethics? Or maybe there won't be anyone left to stand up for? Anyways, good film!

If there is one word to perfectly describe this film it would be cliché. While the story is good and interesting because it id based on true events. The way the film is made is hackneyed and has been seen many times before. The dialogue and scene to scene pacing along with rehashed character types and situations make this film barely watchable. The lines of dialogue and over the shoulder parking garage "following" scenes prove that the film makers made no attempt to create an original presentation of a "based on true events movie". The few courtroom scenes were the best executed from a filmmaking standpoint. If you ignore the poor film making the story itself is actually quit interesting and noteworthy.

This movie was a surprising disappointment to me. Despite a potentially riveting story and a strong performance from the always-engaging Jeremy Renner, this film followed a predictable, cliché-ridden narrative, rarely deviating into the original. The praise from critics and viewers can likely be attributed to two factors: the image of a courageous, talented journalist (Gary Webb) pursuing and defending his story against pressure from multiple angles, and the fact that the target of his investigation was the Reagan administration's CIA, frequently a target of Hollywood. Considering these factors, this film was NEVER going to get a bad review. A far superior film within this genre is "Shattered Glass," a more credible, sophisticated story about a young crackpot who nearly destroyed the New Republic.Alas, this film goes from zero to tedious very quickly. Webb is portrayed in an idealized fashion more suitable to Frank Capra movies of the 1940s - the earnest moral giant surrounded by relative pygmies, save his loyal wife (also well-portrayed by Rosemarie DeWitt). Only a previous extramarital affair with a tragic ending blemishes his character.All the remaining characters are figures straight out of central casting that we've seen a hundred times before. The spineless newspaper editors and executives who get cold feet when the story gets questioned - check. The jealous competitors who gleefully go after the hero instead of his story - check. The shady, sinister CIA agents - check. The ex-CIA agent who gets an attack of conscience - check. This last character, portrayed by Ray Liotta, laughably implies that the Central American radicals of that era that were being opposed by the CIA wanted elected governments. Their motto of "bullets, not ballots" suggested otherwise.While the wisdom, legality and morality of Reagan's support to the Contras can and is subject to legitimate debate to this day, longtime critics of the agency and, seemingly, the producers of this film, seem to think that gaining information on America's enemies can never involve nefarious characters. Maybe they think that we can stop the next ISIL-inspired terrorist attack by getting information from the Boy Scouts, but I digress.

"Some stories are just too true to tell"Based on a true story, a journalist at a minor newspaper, Gary Webb (played by Jeremy Renner), gets a tip off that a witness at trial of a drug dealer is a government informant, and is importing drugs into the US. After much investigation he uncovers evidence that suggests that the CIA are allowing US-backed rebels in Nicaragua to sell large quantities of drugs in the US in exchange for arms. Once he publishes the story, his world is turned upside down...An interesting story. Well written and directed, with solid performances from a star-studded cast (Jeremy Renner, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Oliver Platt, Andy Garcia, Michael Sheen, Robert Patrick, Paz Vega, Barry Pepper, Ray Liotta).Doesn't ever transcend "interesting" though. You really are never sure whether to view Webb as heroic or foolish (or even delusional, as this turns out to be one of the options). Plus, for a "true" story, with truth as its theme, there sure are many fabrications and embellishments for dramatic effect in the movie...Overall, worth a watch but don't take it too seriously or expect anything too profound.