Beneath the Fold

This film reminds me a bit of the Danish version of The Guilty and Glengarry Glenn Ross. Taking place at the end of the 2008 financial crisis, a small newsroom struggles to maintain relevance in a changing world. The setting is claustrophobic, taking place deep in the bowels of the newsroom, the penny pinched skeleton crew overseeing the nightly blotter... "if it bleeds it leads." The staff are believers, but it's hard not to be cynical. Simmering beneath the surface is a secret involving one of the paper's own that slowly unspools. I loved the tight framing and choice of black and white. The movie gives you the feeling of being sucked under, yet it's not a bad place to be. The dialogue is snappy and clever, and the ensemble cast play off one another beautifully. The film has that great quality of making you feel like you know the characters, and the secret unravels in a satisfying conclusion.

The film gives off a moody, 1940s film noir vibe but juxtaposed with modern language and quite a bit of profanity which makes it humorous. It's an in-depth look at the issues of a dying local newspaper but addresses the larger themes of racism, sexism, truth, ethics, power and abuse. I'm a fan of Scott Cohen and it was fantastic to see him in a more intellectual role in an art film. This film comes at the perfect time when we are tired of standard Hollywood fare and when we are constantly worried about the integrity of the media. You know a film is great when you are still thinking about it several days later.