Grade: 88/100
Words are powerful, permanent and can often be dangerous. 
“Kill the Messenger,” a thrilling and emotional depiction of one journalist’s life and story, is not only an entertaining look into the media but also a warning that the truth is not always black and white. 
Director Michael Cuesta challenges the audience to accept the terrifying fact that the United States government may not be the squeaky clean father figure everyone wants it to be. 
The plot follows journalist Gary Webb, played by Jeremy Renner, a seemingly great writer desperately searching for his claim to fame and his spiraling trip down the rabbit’s hole unraveling the secrets behind the start of the “crack epidemic” in the U.S. 
As Webb begins to put together all the twisted pieces to the elaborate puzzle, he’s met with threats against his life as well as the lives of his family members. What he starts to put together, and eventually publishes, is that the CIA was helping arm Contra rebels in Nicaragua and acquiring funds to do so through the importation and selling of cocaine in the U.S. 
Renner phenomenally depicts a man who, on one hand, is completely confident in his work, but he’s also terrified by what his words may do to his career or, more importantly, his personal life. 
Through Renner’s acting, his character truly reflects the two-part life of a journalist: the hungry writer eager for greatness and the man that has immense responsibilities for others’ lives and well-being. 
With each scene, Webb sinks further into abysmal failure, and Renner perfectly brings to life this uncontrollable descent. 
Cuesta does an amazing job explaining the inner workings of media and the field of journalism as a whole. However, Cuesta also shows the dark side of the media through a complete reversal in acceptance for Webb and his work. 
“Kill the Messenger” in its most raw state is another great addition to the conspiracy theory movie collection of American cinema. 
Unfortunately, an unsolved problem is all that Cuesta leaves the audience, and most viewers likely will feel depressed instead of enlightened upon exiting the theatre. 
Seeing the utter destruction of a man who does not deserve it isn’t the type of film everyone will enjoy, despite its respectable plot and screenplay. 
You can reach Michael Tarver on Twitter @michael_T16.