Alternate Best Actor 2014: Jeremy Renner in Kill the Messenger

Jeremy Renner did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Gary Webb in Kill the Messenger.

Kill the Messenger is an imperfect however somewhat decent procedural about the true story of the fallout after journalist believes he's found connections between the illegal drug trade in American and the CIA.

This film opens as a more traditional procedural, and a better film it is in this point, as we follow a reporter tracking a story brought to him by a drug dealer's girlfriend. This taking the All The President's Men approach effectively early on lead by Jeremy Renner as just the dogged reporter at first. Renner is effective in this just portraying well the sort of lead for this type of film. This isn't ever something that should be hand waved as Renner delivers well the sense of the investigation in his performance. This is as Renner portrays the initial interest with each piece of evidence and importantly the certain sense of invigoration that Webb gets as he begins to discover each new revelation. Renner finding well the sort of reporter's spirit within his performance, portraying more than just being in scenes and instead showing a man actively reacting towards what he is slowly starting to discover. Renner pulls you into these early moments well Webb believes he's finding connections between the drug trade along with the CIA connected Nicaraguan Contras. What Renner does in these early scenes is create the right sort of foundation in crafting Webb as a likable and determined protagonist. This is even with even the slight tension we sense with his wife (Rosemarie DeWitt), however Renner balances well to create a man we see both as something determined to get the story, but we also just get the sense of a man early on within this situation.

The film then first shifts towards the next phase which really becomes the put upon whistle-blower style film, which is less effective overall. Renner though is very good in the early scenes depicting this in just creating the early tensions within his performance. This in particular a scene where men seem to threaten his children by saying they won't threaten them just before he releases the story. Renner's reaction is terrific in catching the sense of Webb sensing the implication and reaction of a mix of horror and anger so effectively. Renner is terrific in the early moments of bringing to life the anxieties as it seems as though there is a looming threat around him from the story. Renner's performance gauges well a sense of determination within the fear early on as well. This portraying the sense of conviction in the man's eyes even within the paranoia of the threat slowly seeping into it. This as we see Webb's article come out which earns some suggestions of initial praise then much attack soon afterwards through its certain alluded to claims and sourcing issues. Renner's performance though is fantastic though in initially finding the sort of ease in reaction towards the initial questions this with just a man thinking it is part of a routine. This though quickly changes to far more than just a few questions as certain elements of his story fall out of place and his sources in particular don't seem to fully support all of his claims. 

This is where the film and Renner actually seem to almost make two separate decisions. The film itself becomes rather repetitive in showing just one thing after another adding up against Webb though with the view that Webb was unquestionably right in every way, except his marriage infidelities. This approach becoming repetitive quickly in terms of the narrative and leads to a somewhat underwhelming film by the end. Renner's performance is the one thing that keeps it afloat though as he seems to suggest a different approach within his own work. This as he doesn't portray Webb as wrong, but he shows that he was perhaps fell into some confirmation bias. This as Renner's work as one thing after another comes after Webb, portrays it as not this just a downtrodden hero. We get this right from the outset where he explains his earlier infidelity to his son. Renner's expression reveals nothing but a sense of quiet anguish over an obvious flaw that runs even deeper in terms of his personal failure. Renner in this scene though shows the very much the humanity within the flaw, though as the film continues I find he manages to subvert a certain expectation. This as it would've been easy enough to portray Webb as a man as just a simple martyr for his beliefs which is honestly the suggested route by the film's approach, however Renner takes it in a far more interesting approach to create a portrait of Webb as an imperfect messenger. 

This as we see the unraveling of Webb Renner's portrayal is not of righteous indignation. There is a small sense of that in Renner's work, but more so he emphasizes well this personal outrage. An outrage he portrays as properly messy with this sense of  personalized anger. In that his deliveries emphasize hate towards those speaking ill of him, just as he speaks with passion for his work. When it seems like he has found new evidence, particularly the seeming ridiculous scene of a nighttime visitor that confirms all his theories, Renner is excellent in that he speaks these words as ravings. This in showing this desperation to be shown right that in turn it seems like he's wrong. Renner excels by showing a man failing in a certain sense to be his own advocate. This in each proceeding scene this increase of that desperation in his performance. Renner then showing this sense of depression only growing in his eyes just as much as the anger is. Renner doesn't separate the elements of Webb's downfall showing it something unappealing in the grander scheme of things. This suggesting a striking sense of self-destruction even if he had been on the right track at one point. Renner is outstanding in his final scene. This first beginning with a speech as the journalist of the year. Renner doesn't even make this a small triumph, rather showing just a man seething within his despair, speaking most words with a sardonic dismissive quality, while his eyes just reflect the terrible wear of the man from his experience. This is followed by a family talk with who encourage him. This seemingly the film's attempt to leave on a more upbeat note even though the real Webb committed suicide shortly afterwards, noted by the film, though in a way not to discourage conspiracy. Renner again seems to ignore this in showing only the small glint life in the affection for his family, however his face though just bearing the weight of his existence from his ordeal. This with a penetrating sense of depression where Renner essentially states Webb's unfortunate end without needing to say it. This is a terrific performance by Jeremy Renner as he crafts a remarkable protagonist even perhaps beyond the film's intentions. This in finding more complexity and nuance within the central role than was potentially found within the script. This in granting a memorable tragedy in Webb's own story as he believes he's telling his essential truth.