Customer Ratings & Reviews

Kill the Messenger is a true tragedy. A discussion and a meditation on the human life and the countless directions it could go according to the mind that is guiding it. It is a story that takes on the model of what its main character goes through reinforcing the difficulty with which he experiences in trying to follow the guiding light he caught a glimpse of as a child. Despite what else might go on in his life Gary Webb (Jeremy Renner) is an idealistic journalist who believes in the power of his profession. He is a man held to the virtues of his responsibilities to the American public and, as he should, takes that responsibility seriously. He is as ambitious as he needs to be in wanting to crack the one big story that might break his career wide open and send him from the bowels of the San Jose Mercury News to the big leagues of the The Los Angeles Times or Washington Post though these ambitions never feel as important as his need to produce quality. What the film tells of more than it does necessarily follow the plot of the story Webb is investigating is the role of man in our society when he plays with the powers that be. What is wrong with our government if we are not allowed to question them without repercussion? In this case the repercussion is that of Webb becoming the story, his credibility called into question, rather than what he'd actually investigated and reported on being the story or point of focus. It is as much a commentary on the integrity of investigative journalism and how it has devolved into what we have today (the 24-hour news cycle on roids) as it is an interesting take on the state of our country which promises and promotes freedom, but will devour you if you take those liberties to a certain extent. Kill the Messenger is an engaging film, one reminiscent of those 1970's Robert Redford films (namely All the President's Men) taking the paranoid political thriller and transcending even that genre classification because of the real life weight the story holds.

Kudos to Jeremy Renner for producing and starring in this riveting adaptatoin of Nick Schou's _Kill_the_Messenger_ and Gary Webb's _Dark_Alliance_. It's a story about a hero's quest to tell a truth to the people, too truthful to be told, and the professonal and personal tolls that were taken as a result. This film is an entertainment, not a documentary, but it hews close enough to the essential truths about Webb, the man, and his reportage on the links between the CIA, Nicaraguan "contras" and the importation of drugs and weapons into the US from Latin America. That said, don't watch any film and pretend to learn history. Study history, for its own sake, and then allow that knowledge to inform your enjoyment of said film. That's where I'm coming from with my high praise for this film, based on a true story. We all know, today, with 20-20 hindsight and subsequent, eventual corroborations that what Webb wrote about money for drugs to fund the contras, with CIA cover, if not complicity, was true. It was an ugly and inconvenient truth that put the San Jose Mercury News on the map as a newspaper of national and international standing. A truth that was then viciously spun by government and warped by rival corporate media into a weapon that ultimately destroyed Webb's career as a journalist and, finally, his life. For me, the film passes the smell test to claim to be based on a true story. One thing that I remember from then is how the SJ Mercury News luridly over-hyped Webb's story on its pages and then later threw Webb under the bus, caving into the official-sources-fueled professional retaliation by the LA Times, Washington Post and NY Times, who were all, embarassingly, scooped by Webb. Webb, in fact, was following in the footsteps of an earlier "messenger," Robert Perry, who was eventually forced out of the Associated Press for attampting to cover the same story. The film sports a who's-who of co-stars and is tastefully directed by Michael Cuesta. The extras on disc are worthwhile. Not enough people got to see this film during its theatrical run. I sure didn't, but now I have remedied that.

I didn't know much about this when I bought it let alone it was based on true events! I don't want to give much away but the way I watched this movie (without any knowledge of previous events or even the true story it was based on) was refusing to read reviews or research before I watched it. It has some surprises and it does offer some realism. This movie made me want to review the actual events and found them to be quite interesting and I am surprised I didn't really know about it before hand.

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...

Fan of Jeremy Rinner since "Hurt Locker". I have all of movies. This was not a good way to showcase his talents as an action star. This is a slower pace telling of a true story. This movie is full of talented actors.You will not be disappointed in Jeremy. He is a handsome guy with beautiful blue eyes and long eye lashes. Money well spent.

I enjoyed watching "Kill the Messenger." Topnotch acting across the board painted human characters caught up in a mess that cost Gary Webb his life. Since the movie is based on the true story, and since the truth still hasn't completely seen the light of day, you really can't tell what's fiction filling in the gaps and what's real. So the best way to watch it is as a spy thriller. You'll get the most out of it that way.

This is Gary Webb's docudrama and is well acted by Jeremy Renner. Don't expect to just watch action and fast speed chases. The first part is slow because it shows the investigation that Webb had to do by himself and not until the second half did the movie pick up. All in all, it's a great political drama and historical story.

Based on a true story. Well acted. Just pains you to see and learn afterward the destruction of a man because he believed in his work and the right of the people to know. Trying not to give it away on this one.

Kill the Messenger is a true story about the War on Drugs declared by numerous US Presidents during the 1990's. It is a story about a reporter named Gary Webb from the San Jose Mercury News who writes a story that the US Government, the CIA was heavenly involved in a drug-smuggling scandal. If you like movies with a twist, this one has several up to the end. Jeremy Remmer stars as Gary Webb and is great throughout the movie. A must have for your collection.

I enjoyed watching this movie. Handles the complex true-story of a reporter exposing some very evil CIA operations, which have had far reaching social consequences. No happy endings here. Top-notch Blu-ray video and audio quality.

Our government allowing drug dealer to smuggle crack into our neighborhoods, inconceivable. This is the story of the journalist who uncovered our government doing shady things that only a third world country would do.

Jeremy Renner is an investigated journalist who found a story that was too explosive when it involved the CIA. We need more journalist that are willing to tell the truth no matter the consequences.

I personally haven't seen this one but it was recommend to me by a friend who I trust their opinion. Plus the trailer looked really good. So with that being said I picked it up.

A bit slow but typical drama of a good guy trying to do the right thing while entangled in a web of conspiracy and bureaucracy. Makes you open your eyes to what a corrupt government is capable of!!

I was semi-familiar with the story of Gary Webb and the story he broke but this really showed what he went through in the process of writing the story as well as what happened afterward. If you are not familiar, he revealed the CIA's connection with trafficking Cocaine into the USA and funding south American fighters with the money. Solid movie.

This movie is well acted by Renner. The war on drugs is a disaster this shows how powerful the kingpins have gotten by making something illegal. Will watch again.

Very informative movie. Interesting perspective on an issue of great concern - drug use/abuse and one possible explanation of government involvement.

Not for those unconcerned with history. This one examines the life of a journalist caught up in the CIA's alleged 1980s narco trafficking ties. A David and Goliath story if there ever was one, but it will make you think and question things you may never thought to question.

I've previously seen documentaries on, the real, Rick Ross which made this perspective more interesting.

When I bought this film, I didn't realize it was based on a true story. It's a great historical drama with a dynamic performance by Jeremy Renner.