“Kill the Messenger,” in theaters Friday, is set mostly in California and some in Central America, but was shot in Atlanta.
Credit: Jennifer Brett
Credit: Jennifer Brett
The state Capitol building, which plays the role of a municipal courthouse, looks particularly lovely on the big screen but the movie’s subject matter is sobering. Based on the book of the same name by
Nick Schou
and the book “Dark Alliance” by the late journalist
Gary Webb
, it concerns Webb’s investigation that reported links between the CIA and Central American drug smuggling.
Here's the official trailer:
http://youtu.be/2N2nuDtJX0M
"I thought it was the right time to tell this story," director Michael Cuesta said during a recent interview. "Gary knew he was poking a hornet's nest. He was a guy who saw himself as a soldier."
Webb, played by Jeremy Renner in the movie, was initially celebrated when his work was published in the San Jose Mercury News, but following skeptical articles by other publications, the paper published an editor's note that walked back Webb's conclusions. He resigned and eventually took his own life 10 years ago.
While Cuesta respects his subject he does understand the controversy that engulfed him.
“Make sure the story is cooked completely before you print it,” Cuesta said. “Make sure you get all the sources. dig as deep as you can. If you’re able to unearth some stuff, keep going. If we don’t have these watchdogs, like Gary Webb, we’re not going to get the truth.”
About the Author
