A superb and gripping HBO production starring the always impecable Albert Finney, greatly supported by John Mahoney, Kathy Baker, Swoosie Kurtz, Marsha Mason, David Clennon and with an early appearance by Brad Pitt, "The Image" touches themes of news journalism integrity and ethics, and how ratings, success and information are extremely hard to go hand-in-hand.
Getting the truth inside of a investigative story is the decisive point before everything else, good journalism is based on that, or at least, should be. But to
famous NY anchor Jason Cromwell (Finney) the coverage of a fraudulent bank scheme leads to the suicide of an innocent and the ethical and personal conflict begins
with dealing with a failed marriage (Mason), his affair with a colleague (Baker), and the successive debates on life and career he has with his producer (Mahoney, outstanding).
"Absence of Malice" comes to mind in terms of similarity but that film doesn't have many subplots and the main character investigated part of the report is the one who gets
more attention. Both films cover with touch and care the challenges news media face daily while trying to get important stories, facts, and bring essential information to
readers and viewers. In any case, a report (solid or not) can bring fame or infamy, and the latter is the one that lasts longer because it's typical of many news outlets to hardly ever present a retraction or a follow-up that adds the same weight to the case. Words and images always speaks volumes.
Peter Werner's direction is flawless but Brian Rehak's screenplay makes us question things when we shouldn't, unless if being provoking questions instead of a potential flaw ignored by the script. The guilty conscience haunts Cromwell, understandable but where's the backlash he could face from a whole community
where the deceased was beloved, as presented later on? Their outcry only comes in the form of a friend (Beth Grant), and in the meantime Cromwell tries to dig more about the story and no one seems extremely cold and bitter towards him. There's so many fast conclusions as well but they don't drag the movie down.
Media students and enthusiasts will have in "The Image" a full-hand with a stellar cast, great themes and questionings of it, all presented with quality, thrills and some humor. 9/10.
