Kill the Messenger

Kill the Messenger Videos

2:45

Kill the Messenger: Official Clip - What Happened in Cleveland

2:58

Kill the Messenger: Official Clip - Home Invasion

2:50

Kill the Messenger: Official Clip - The Ends Justify the Means

3:01

Kill the Messenger: Official Clip - Shades of Grey

2:53

Kill the Messenger: Official Clip - Too True to Tell

2:28

Kill the Messenger: Official Clip - Have You Seen a Bike?

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Kill the Messenger: Official Clip - "Freeway" Ricky Ross

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Kill the Messenger: Official Clip - This Is About You

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Kill the Messenger: Official Clip - My Job Was To Tell the Truth

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Kill the Messenger: Official Clip - Interrogating Blandon

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Kill the Messenger Photos

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Cast & Crew

Jeremy Renner
Gary Webb

Rosemarie DeWitt
Sue Webb

Ray Liotta
John Cullen

Tim Blake Nelson
Alan Fenster

Barry Pepper
Russell Dodson

Oliver Platt
Jerry Ceppos

Michael Sheen
Fred Weil

Paz Vega
Coral Baca

Michael Kenneth Williams
Ricky Ross

Mary Elizabeth Winstead
Anna Simons

Andy Garcia
Norwin Meneses

Lucas Hedges
Ian Webb

Gil Bellows
DEA Agent Miller

Dan Futterman
Leo Wolinsky

Matt Lintz
Eric Webb

Parker Douglas
Christine Webb

Michael Cuesta
Director

Peter Landesman
Screenwriter

Scott Stuber
Producer

Naomi Despres
Producer

Jeremy Renner
Producer

Peter Landesman
Executive Producer

Pamela Abdy
Executive Producer

Don Handfield
Executive Producer

Michael Bederman
Executive Producer

Sean Bobbitt
Cinematography

John Paino
Production Design

Brian A. Kates
Film Editing

Nathan Johnson
Original Music

Kimberly Adams-Galligan
Costume Design

Avy Kaufman
Casting

Scott G. Anderson
Art Director

Nicole LeBlanc
Set Decoration

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Audience Reviews for Kill the Messenger

• Aug 15, 2017

  Kill The Messenger is an intelligent investigative drama that will have you hooked from the start. Gary Webb, a journalist for a smallish news agency, stumbles upon a story which proves the CIA used cocaine profits from Central American drug smugglers to fund the Contra rebels. Never heard about it? Me neither, and in fact when the full report was published it was pushed aside by a scandal involving Bill Clinton. So, nearly a decade later, it's time to explore this intriguing story and fortunately this film is absolutely compelling. Yes, the film is about the CIA's involvement in Nicaragua, but beneath this is an individual who only desires to report the truth. Investigating a story with this much classification and secrecy results in the possibility of endangering both your career and family. But the biggest detriment, is to yourself. We see Gary Webb slowly degrade as the investigation takes its toll on him, he gradually becomes a broken man so transfixed on this job that he risks losing everything else. I found it to be utterly heartbreaking, yet rather relatable. This drama didn't need to include any thrills or chase sequences (in the fear that it becomes an action film), and yet director Michael Cuesta was bold enough to incorporate these tense pursuits. They worked. I was on edge. Why? Because Gary Webb was a well developed character. I felt for him and wanted him to succeed. This, for me, is Jeremy Renner's best performance. Forget about the supporting cast, this was his for the taking and he owned it. Emotional, physical and charismatic. Should've been nominated for more awards. The first half was a slow burner, but it picked up pace as soon as the story was established. The supporting cast were wasted, Winstead was probably the best out of them all but still underused. But due to a powerful central performance, this film was elevated to an enthralling level of intrigue. Oh, and the final screen texts detailing the aftermath? It crushed me inside. Gutted.
  

  Luke A Super Reviewer
• Sep 11, 2015

  After an engaging first half that trusts our ability to put together the details of this whole affair as we follow its character, this strong political drama is sadly weakened by some annoying clichés, including that of him becoming an "obsessed man who moves away from his family."
  Carlos M Super Reviewer
• Feb 15, 2015

  Could have been far better had they focused more on the investigative journalism than Webb's family life. It sort of distracts when it turns from a taut thriller to a humdrum family drama. Agreed that some footage ought to be given to that part, but it should have been quite limited. Maybe here too, the editor is to be blamed!!
  familiar s Super Reviewer
• Jan 30, 2015

  Gripping, dramatic and well worth watching. This true story of the CIA using drugs to fund a war shows how far people will go, not only to bury the truth, but to fight for it.
  

  Ian W Super Reviewer

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