Kill the Messenger (2014)

Based on the True story of Journalist Gary Webb. The film takes place in the mid 1990s, when Webb uncovered the CIA's past role in importing huge amounts of cocaine into the U.S. that was ... See full summary »

Director:

Michael Cuesta

Writers:

Peter Landesman, Gary Webb (book)

Stars:

Jeremy Renner, Robert Patrick, Jena Sims

1 win & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jeremy Renner	...	Gary Webb
Robert Patrick	...	Ronald J. Quail
Jena Sims	...	Quail's Girlfriend
Robert Pralgo	...	L.A. Sheriff
Hajji Golightly	...	DEA Agent
Ted Huckabee	...	Bob
Mary Elizabeth Winstead	...	Anna Simons
Lucas Hedges	...	Ian Webb
Rosemarie DeWitt	...	Sue Webb
Matt Lintz	...	Eric Webb
Parker Douglas	...	Christine Webb
Kai Schmoll	...	Sacramento Journalist
Joshua Close	...	Rich Kline (as Josh Close)
Paz Vega	...	Coral Baca
Aaron Farb	...	Rafael Cornejo

Storyline

Based on the True story of Journalist Gary Webb. The film takes place in the mid 1990s, when Webb uncovered the CIA's past role in importing huge amounts of cocaine into the U.S. that was aggressively sold in ghettos across the country to raise money for the Nicaraguan Contras rebel army. Despite enormous pressure not to, Webb chose to pursue the story and went public with his evidence, publishing the series "Dark Alliance". As a result he experienced a vicious smear campaign fueled by the CIA. At that point Webb found himself defending his integrity, his family, and his life.

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Plot Keywords:

based on true story | cia | smear campaign | journalist | cocaine | 

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Taglines:

Can you keep a national secret?

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Genres:

Biography | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and drug content

Details

Official Sites:

Official Site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 September 2015 (Germany)

Also Known As:

Secret d'état

Filming Locations:

Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$5,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$941,809 (USA) (10 October 2014)

Gross:

$2,445,646 (USA) (5 December 2014)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bluegrass Films, The Combine

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital Datasat

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jeremy Renner was initially in talks to star as political whistle-blower, Julian Assange in 2013's The Fifth Estate. Renner ultimately declined the part and moved forward with Kill the Messenger instead.

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Goofs

There are new (large face) $100 bills in the crack-selling montage.

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Quotes

Gary Webb: I thought my job was to tell the public the truth, the facts; pretty or not, and let the publishing of those facts make a difference in how people look at things, at themselves, and what they stand for...

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Crazy Credits

Just before the closing credits, there is a short video showing the real Gary Webb at home with his children.

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Connections

Featured in The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Jeremy Renner/Carol Burnett/Mario Batali (2014)

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Soundtracks

Bloodhounds On My Trail
Written by Stephanie Bailey, Geary Christian Bland, Kyle Hunt, Alex Maas, Jennifer Raines and Nathaniel Ryan
Performed by The Black Angels
Courtesy of Light In The Attic Records and Distribution, LLC

User Reviews

Really liked the whole thing. A great drama.

It was a movie that made me think, as it involved a different angle to a subject that I knew something about.

The trailer suggest that the movie is about the true story of Gary Webb's article that suggest the CIA were evolved with drug dealing as a way to fund a war in the 1980's, but as the title of the movie described the people read the article and ran with their own conspiracies which lead to a CIA cover up that lead to Webb's downward spiral.

It is an Intriguing tell of a journalist trying to keep his integrity while forces were trying to ruin it to keep their own.

Jeremy Renner drove his acting vehicle well, not well enough in my opinion to win an Oscar or anything, but it proves that he can headline anything.

Definitely a good movie to sit through.