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Kill the Messenger

BiographyCrimeDrama

Journalist Gary Webb, California 1996, started investigating CIA's role in the 1980s in getting crack cocaine to the black part of LA to get money and weapons to the Contra insurgents in Nicaragua.

Year

2014

Duration

1h 52m

IMDb

6.9

Hero Poster

Cast

Michael Cuesta

Director

Jeremy Renner

Gary Webb

Robert Patrick

Ronald J. Quail

Cast

Michael Cuesta

Director

Jeremy Renner

Gary Webb

Robert Patrick

Ronald J. Quail

Jena Sims

Quail's Girlfriend

Robert Pralgo

LA Sheriff

HG

Hajji Golightly

DEA Agent

Ted Huckabee

Bob

Mary Elizabeth Winstead

Anna Simons

Lucas Hedges

Ian Webb

Rosemarie DeWitt

Sue Webb

Matt Lintz

Eric Webb

PD

Parker Douglas

Christine Webb

KS

Kai Schmoll

Sacramento Journalist

Joshua Close

Rich Kline

Paz Vega

Coral Baca

Aaron Farb

Rafael Cornejo

Barry Pepper

Russell Dodson

Tom Jordan

San Francisco Judge

Clay Edmund Kraski

DEA Agent Jones

Peter Landesman

Writer

GW

Gary Webb

Writer

NS

Nick Schou

Writer

Trailer

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Comments

10 Comments

Master KGMay 29, 2023

source: Kill the Messenger

Amanda du-PontSep 12, 2022

This film is based on true events that happened during the war in Nicaragua launched by the rebels against the sandinista regime. CIA allowed the rebels to sell drugs in certain ghettos to get money to finance the rebels' struggle. Gary Webb, a journalist in a minor newspaper became aware of the story and being an honest journalist who loves truth above all and the right of informing the public about it starts a close investigation about it and started publishing it. Of course this attracts a CIA campaign against him that includes smearing his life and damaging his family relationship with his wife and kids. This battle brings him a lot of trouble but he never gives up. This story is told in direct, tough and simple images and scenes in a short, quick and very efficient succession. The main actor performing the journalist role does a good and expressive job.

ceesaysafetySep 12, 2022

Interesting story of the vile corruption in America. Poorly researched. Poorly put together. Total failure in showing how and why Mr Webb supposedly killed himself with two bullets. Or was murdered. Mr Renner played very monotonously. Inhuman. Watchable. Disappointing. I don't know if there was a casting issue for Webb's wife. I'd've probably killed myself if I'd a scraggy wife like that. Not an appealing choice. But in real life he had several children with her, so probably was not her. Why on earth did he pop off to stay in that hotel? And if your bike's stolen why do you add to your woes by then vandalising your own car? There's no sense in it. We need an investigative reporter to decypher this movie it seems. A remake is necessary to show the exact events of the true story. Ie not US corruption, but Mr Webb's death.

rashidalhabtoorSep 12, 2022

I wasn't planning on going to see this film. A lot came out in UK cinemas this week and this was at the back of my priority list. However when standing in line I had a sudden change of heart and decided to add this to the other 2 films i was planning on viewing today. This was an excellent film...but it wouldn't have even made a 3 star rating if it wasn't for Jeremy Renner. This is a story people should be aware about and Renner really broke the glass of my expectations in this movie. Although the supporting cast were pretty good, I felt that as renner was in almost every scene the supporting cast didn't really get a chance to shine as all eyes were fixed on renner.

WhitneyBabySep 12, 2022

The story of journalist Gary Webb who reported that the CIA were fully aware of and indeed supportive of the sale of cocaine in the US to fund Nicaraguan rebels. Praised heavily for his breaking story, the CIA and the media turned on him later, shattering his life. A truly fascinating tale in that whilst as suggested his story could not be properly substantiated and perhaps was not great journalism, it ultimately appeared to be true. It is also interesting that notwithstanding the quality of the journalism and accuracy of the articles, how far the CIA, his employees and other major papers and the media more generally were prepared to go to discredit him. Renner is quite excellent in this, never presenting Webb as totally right or even that nice but a man with a single passion to stick to his guns. Support cast including the always reliable Platt are first class.

thenanaabaSep 12, 2022

Greetings from Lithuania. "Kill the Messenger" (2014) is a very compelling Picture based on a very true story. Jeremy Renner plays a real life journalist who wrote a story involving drug traffic connection with a government. After this, his personal life is being exposed. The movie itself reminded me of Michael Mann's "The Insider" (1999). Acting here is good, especially by lead Jeremy Renner who in my opinion gives his best performance here since "The Town" - he's terrific in "Kill the Messenger". Director Michael Cuesta does a great job in this movie - at running time 1 h 50 min this movie never drags and is involving from start till finish. Script is also very compelling. Overall, all in all "Kill the Messenger" is a very solid movie. Based on a true story, with fine performances and a strong central, great direction and script this is must see for all who likes real stories told very well.

CleopatrabobbSep 9, 2022

"Kill the Messenger" is a pretty well done film that's provocative and soul searching that uncovers hidden lies as the federal government has a dirty little game a drug for guns profit! Most remember the headlines and the scandal from the 1980's and 1990's when it was revealed that the CIA was arming rebels in Nicaragua to help fight other countries and foreign agencies all while turning the other way and letting them profit by importing and selling cocaine in the United States. Thru it all as each detail is uncovered with anger this political drama is carried by the performance of Jeremy Renner as Gary Webb a hard charging investigative reporter from California as he tries to prove that the CIA used cocaine profits to fund Contra rebels this tale explodes with suspense and personal drama really it's an eye opening political thriller.

Charmaine Cara KuvarSep 9, 2022

When a random reader brings a hot tip to reporter Gary Webb (Jeremy Renner) in the 1990s, he starts to dig deeper. These days, we're much more skeptical of documents and sources, but of course, this describes the events from the mid 1980s, when they weren't so careful, and it wasn't so easy to forge documents. The more Webb digs, the more he uncovers. Were the gov big wigs were involved with bringing drugs into the U. S. to raise money for their own personal causes? Causes which congress was not interested in funding. When word gets out that Webb is investigating this, the threats and intimidation begin. And not just from the government. This film has some overlap with American Made.. the story of Barry Seal, who flew drugs, photos, and soldiers for the CIA. Kill the Messenger came first, and shows the work the authors did to uncover what occurred. Directed by michael cuesta. Has done television and film. Based on original material by Gary Webb and Nick Schou. Great stuff.

#Vee#Sep 9, 2022

I saw Jeremy Renner on The Daily Show, talk about this movie and was intrigued. Unfortunately I watched after it went to Red box. I wished I saw it, when it was in the theaters. I gave it a high score not because it's a brilliant movie but because it's an important movie that needs to be told. The story from Gary Webb I'm sure is a much better read however what happened to him, who he was as a journalist and family man is just as important to understand. What the other media people did to him and his story, well you'll just have to see it. Regarding the CIA conspiracy, I'm not that surprised. Ever since the JFK movie that came out some 20+ yrs ago my eyes were opened about the lengths the government will go to, to get the job done.

i_am_lawsSep 8, 2022

I liked this movie: great acting, fine direction and good cinematography. I didn't like the script very much. IMHO it is not that important for the viewer to know whether Gary Webb was right or not. BTW, I would have quit immediately. Similar things happened here in Italy to journalists and judges when they tried to investigate about politicians and mafia links. They are dead while politics and mafia are still alive, even more powerful. Screenplay should have been more careful in assuming that Webb did the right thing instead of quitting when he had the possibility to quit. One more thing. I suggest to change the title in "Too True To Tell"...