As word about the story spread through the Internet, TV and radio, politicians took up Webb’s cause. [15][16][17] The weekend of December 5, Focus Features expanded Kill the Messenger to 19 additional theaters, for a sum of 27 theaters overall. Gary Webb pushed his investigation even further in his book, Dark Alliance: The CIA, The Contras, and the Crack Cocaine Explosion. ", "From Universal Pictures Home Entertainment: Kill The Messenger", "TOP 10 MOST PIRATED MOVIES OF THE WEEK-– 02/02/15", "The Anti-Oscars 2014: The James Agee Cinema Cinema Circle Awards", "2015 Golden Trailer Awards Winners Revealed", "Whistle Blower Summit for Civil & Human Rights", Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kill_the_Messenger_(2014_film)&oldid=1004314678, Films about the Central Intelligence Agency, Films with screenplays by Peter Landesman, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles to be expanded from September 2015, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Oct 10, 2014 Published in the October 2014 issue . He was married to Sue Bell. The site's consensus reads, "Kill the Messenger's potent fury over the tale of its real-life subject overrides its factual inaccuracies and occasional narrative stumbles. The story attracted hundreds of thousands of readers to the newspaper’s site at a time when “going viral” was still a twinkle in the Internet’s eye. Winner of the 1999 Firecracker Alternative Bookseller (FAB) Award, Politics category. Write to Eliana Dockterman at eliana.dockterman@time.com. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a "Certified Fresh" rating of 77%, based on 128 reviews, with an average rating of 6.61/10. Winner of the 1999 PEN/Oakland Censorship Award. Gary Webb goes on to explain how the isolation of the small Cabazon reservation, a tribe of thirty people, and its tax exempt status and lack of federal oversight were the advantages gained by using that location. The book that inspired Kill the Messenger, now a major motion picture starring Jeremy Renner as Gary Webb. In 2004, Webb was found dead at the age of 49 from two gunshot wounds to the head. Eventually, their reporting turns to Webb himself, including an affair he had while working at the Plain Dealer. Kill the Messenger is a 2014 American biographical crime thriller film directed by Michael Cuesta and written by Peter Landesman. Gary Webb is dead. On March 5, 2014, Focus Features announced that the film would be released on October 10, 2014. You can unsubscribe at any time. In a scene from the new movie Kill the Messenger, investigative reporter Gary Webb (played by Jeremy Renner) says that he doesn’t believe in conspiracy theories. [5][6], Nathan Johnson composed the score for the film,[7] and Back Lot Music release a soundtrack album on October 7, 2014. ("Dark Allance" p.113) Webb continued " . Webb researches Blandón and comes across the pending case of "Freeway" Rick Ross, who is stunned to learn that Blandón is a paid informant. At a Society of Professional Journalists dinner honoring Webb as the Bay Area "Journalist of the Year", he submits his resignation to his editors. Please try again later. . Webb travels to a prison in Managua and speaks to Blandón's partner Norwin Meneses, who confirms Oliver North's involvement in the basic "drugs for guns" scheme to use profits from cocaine trafficking to fund the Contras. Myanmar’s Creatives Fighting Military Rule With Art. It is based on the book of the same name by Nick Schou and the book Dark Alliance by Gary Webb, which focuses on CIA involvement in Contra cocaine trafficking. Still, Webb’s reputation as an investigative journalist was tarnished. The big media that teamed up and piled on in the smear campaign against Webb not only ruined the career of a great journalist, but also helped to tear apart a family’s future. [18], In early February, Kill the Messenger was leaked online, and was reportedly among the top ten films with the most unauthorized downloads for several weeks. [8], Kill the Messenger received a regional theatrical release on October 10, 2014. [13], As a result of this marketing campaign, the highest domestic television coverage for Kill the Messenger occurred when it had been retracted from all but 18 theaters in the United States and three weeks before its theatrical run was ended. Drawing from then newly declassified documents, undercover DEA audio and videotapes that had never been publicly released, federal court testimony, and interviews, Webb demonstrates how our government knowingly allowed massive amounts of drugs and money to … Subscribe for just 99¢. After gaining access to secret grand jury transcripts in 1996, and following the subsequent paper trail that followed therein, Gary Webb made the shocking discovery that government informant, Oscar Danilo Blandón, was covertly selling tons of cocaine for the Central Intelligence Agency in South Central Los Angeles, and other parts of the country. It is based on the book of the same name by Nick Schou and the book Dark Alliance by Gary Webb, which focuses on CIA involvement in Contra cocaine trafficking. Is Andy Garcia's character, Norwin Meneses, based on a real person? Webb is banished to the newspaper's Cupertino bureau to cover mundane local news. Epilogue tells that in 2004 Gary Webb was found dead in his apartment, shot twice in the head. Sign up to receive the top stories you need to know now on politics, health and more, © 2021 TIME USA, LLC. Gary Webb sums up the story in his last major interview just days before his death. Police ruled it a suicide. Originally shared by Guerrilla News Network on archive.org. After Webb reveals to the prosecutor in the case that he has the transcript, the government drops the charges against Coral's boyfriend in order to protect their main witness: Oscar Danilo Blandón. "[10] On Metacritic, the film currently has a rating of 60 out of 100, based on 36 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". Gary Webb was born on August 31, 1955 in Corona, California, USA as Gary Stephen Webb. [12][13] Attention was also drawn to the large discrepancy in the amount of television advertising that Focus Features gave to each of its fall releases, specifically between Kill the Messenger, which was given a total of 448 national advertisements, to Theory of Everything, which was nationally aired 3,046 times and largely on major television networks (i.e., ABC, NBC, CBS, MTV). Help Petition Focus Features to Stop Burying his "Kill the Messenger" Biopic! It was accompanied by a heavy-handed picture of a man smoking crack under the CIA seal. The millions of dollars made from those sales were later used to fund a secret war against the leftist Sandinista regime. The movie could shed more light on the flaws in Webb’s reporting and the deceits inherent in the CIA reaction. . Later that year, a series of articles by journalist Gary Webb in the San Jose Mercury News revealed a connection between one of Ross's cocaine sources, Danilo Blandón, and the CIA as part of the Iran–Contra affair. Gary Webb's "Dark Alliance" series boldly claimed the CIA knew about a U.S. drug trafficking scheme that ravaged the country's inner cities to fund Nicaragua's Contra rebels. Subscribe for just 99¢. Popular reviews. But many dismissed Webb’s reporting as a conspiracy theory. The real Gary Webb (bottom) owned a motorcycle and was an avid rider like Jeremy Renner's character in the Kill the Messenger movie (top). The film stars Jeremy Renner in his first film as a producer. Based on the true story of journalist Gary Webb. Find on Wikipedia. An unexpected error has occurred with your sign up. In short, Webb accused the CIA of being complicit in getting thousands of poor African-Americans addicted to crack in order to fund rebels in Central America. Ceppos said that the paper “did not have proof” that top CIA officials knew about the connection between the L.A. drug trade and the contras. “Even sources who are routinely skeptical of the official line on the contras agree that the idea that the agency was behind drug smuggling by the contras is fantasy,” journalist Eliane Shannon, who covered the war on drugs, told TIME shortly after the Mercury New ran the articles. Supported by his wife and children, Webb pursued the story and went public with his evidence. He was a writer, known for Kill the Messenger (2014), Filming in Georgia (2015) and Crack in America (2015). A 1998, a CIA inspector general’s report denied any ties between the U.S. government and the drug dealers Webb named in his articles and book, but ultimately confirmed Webb’s thesis that the CIA had worked with contras despite drug-dealing allegations against them. Representative Maxine Waters, a congresswoman for South Central Los Angeles — the heart of the drug wars — requested both federal and congressional inquiries into the role that the U.S. government played in bringing cocaine into her community. From Left: Late journalist Gary Webb, Actor Jeremy Renner in 'Kill the Messenger'. [11], Several weeks after the Kill the Messenger premiere, the significant lack of advertising for the film and its rapid retraction from theaters led to the creation of a petition to re-release the film in theaters on November 24, 2014 through Change.org, entitled "Focus Features: Support Gary Webb and Re-Release Kill the Messenger in Theaters." Incensed about being scooped by a small paper on a hometown story, Los Angeles Times editors assign no fewer than 17 reporters to the Gary Webb beat. He is awoken in his motel room one night by John Cullen, who is precisely the kind of CIA source with direct knowledge of the scheme that Webb's reporting needs. Gary Webb's son on new movie "Kill the Messenger" - YouTube The film was released on October 10, 2014.[4]. uncovered convincing evidence that proceeds from international cocaine trafficking represented a major source of funding for U * The request timed out and you did not successfully sign up. Advertisement. However, he continues to work on the story. Instead, it hurtles around drumming up tension. Gary Webb movie reviews & film summaries | Roger Ebert. Armed with this knowledge, Ross' attorney is able to elicit from Blandón under oath the outlines of the conspiracy: With support from the Central Intelligence Agency, Blandón and his partners smuggled cocaine into the U.S. and used the profits to benefit the Nicaraguan Contras. Gary Webb, a journalist at The San Jose Mercury News, thought it was a far-fetched story to begin with, but in 1995 and 1996, he dug in and produced … The film was released on October 10, 2014. All Rights Reserved. Kill the Messenger is a 2014 American biographical crime thriller film directed by Michael Cuesta and written by Peter Landesman. The new Hollywood film "Kill the Messenger" tells the story of Gary Webb, one of the most maligned figures in investigative journalism. It started when Webb wrote a series of three articles for the San Jose Mercury News in 1996 dubbed “Dark Alliance.” In his report, Webb — who had won a Pulitzer in 1989 for a different story — claimed that the CIA was partly responsible for bringing crack cocaine to the United States in the 1980s. [4][9], The film has received generally positive reviews from critics. Webb views their follow-up reporting as being far too deferential to the CIA. Webb's ensuing article about the abuses of forfeiture garners repeated phone calls from a woman named Coral, whom he agrees to meet when she says she has documents that prove the government sponsored cocaine sales in the U.S. Coral gives Webb a transcript of grand jury testimony (normally kept secret) which was accidentally released to her boyfriend, an accused drug dealer, during discovery. Two-time Academy Award nominee Jeremy Renner (The Bourne Legacy) leads an all-star cast in a dramatic thriller based on the remarkable true story of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Gary Webb. The paper publishes Webb's story as a three-part series with the title "Dark Alliance"; it is an immediate sensation. Like many other people that Webb speaks to, Weil warns him that the subject may put him into danger. Webb's exhilaration at finding Cullen is quickly dampened when the paper reveals its plans to write an open letter calling into question aspects of its "Dark Alliance" reporting. He was the journalist who wrote a famous–or infamous–1996 series for the San Jose Mercury News that maintained a CIA-supported drug ring based in … Through the petition and direct appeals to Focus Features, attention was drawn to the fact that the film distribution company aired more national television commercials for Kill the Messenger six weeks after the premiere date than they did before the film was released in theaters, and almost exclusively outside of primetime hours and off of major broadcasting companies. Having learned to read at the age of 28, during his first stint in prison, Ross spent much of his time behind bars studying the law. [13][14], The petition picked up a strong momentum through social media, accruing over 2,000 signatures in less than two weeks. In 1997, the Mercury News executive editor Jerry Ceppos backed away from the story, calling it flawed in an editorial. Other papers find plenty of … He died on December 10, 2004 in Carmichael, California. But to continue to discredit Webb and now Kill the Messenger, the Hollywood movie about him starring Jeremy Renner, seems like cheap shot. Years later, he shot himself in the head. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our. The New York Times, Washington Post and Los Angeles Times all ran their own investigations that disputed many points in Webb’s story — though all three of those pieces had their own reporting problems, according to TIME’s Jack E. White. Gary Stephen Webb (August 31, 1955 – December 10, 2004) was an American investigative journalist. His death was ruled a suicide. Book. In Washington, D.C., Webb tracks down Fred Weil, a National Security Council employee who was an investigator on the Kerry Committee report, which touched on the same issues. This is your last free article. Jeremy Renner stars as Gary Webb, the real-life dedicated reporter for The San Jose Mercury-News. Reviews. [19], CIA involvement in Contra cocaine trafficking, Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association, "Kill the Messenger (2014) - Financial Information", "Jeremy Renner's 'Kill the Messenger' Gets Fall Release Date", "Jeremy Renner movie, 'Kill the Messenger', filming in Decatur, GA", "Nathan Johnson Scoring 'Kill the Messenger, "Kill the Messenger, Starring Jeremy Renner, is Coming in October", "FEATURE: HOLLYWOOD SNUBS MOVIE DEPICTING HOW US AUTHORITIES CONTRIBUTED TO THE CRACK & COCAINE EPIDEMICS, HARMING URBAN COMMUNITIES", "Gary Webb Has Been Suppressed AGAIN!!! You have 1 free article left. In the 1990s, Webb uncovered the Central Intelligence Agency’s role in importing cocaine into California that was sold to raise money for the Nicaraguan Contras rebel army. The film opens as San Jose Mercury News reporter Gary Webb interviews drug dealer Ronny Quail, who is outraged that the government used civil asset forfeiture to keep his house even after he was acquitted. Joe Barber Award-Best Portrayal of Washington D.C. Oglethorpe Award for Excellence in Georgia Cinema, Whistle Blower Summit for Civil & Human Rights, Pillar Award for Best Whistle Blower Film, This page was last edited on 2 February 2021, at 00:48. He does, however, believe in real conspiracies: “If I believe it, there’s nothing ‘theory’ about it.” The true story on which the movie is based, however, makes it clear that it’s not always obvious what’s a theory and what’s the truth. Movie Reviews Great Movies Collections TV/Streaming Features Chaz's Journal Interviews Cast and Crew Gary Webb Find on IMDB. Webb resigned from the paper shortly thereafter. Smear campaign: Jeremy Renner as Gary Webb, in Kill The Messenger But the story that would make Webb’s name — and then contribute to his (many would say) … For good measure, federal agents summon Webb to a meeting where they warn him against publishing what he has learned. How Gary Webb Died A few words on the man portrayed in Kill the Messenger. Webb conducted a year-long investigation during which he discovered that a San Francisco-based drug ring, which had ties to a CIA-sponsored Nicaraguan contra group called the FDN, sold cocaine to a dealer in South Central Los Angeles. After gaining access to secret grand jury transcripts in 1996, and following the subsequent paper trail that followed therein, Gary Webb made the shocking discovery that government informant, Oscar Danilo Blandón, was covertly selling tons of cocaine for the Central Intelligence Agency in South Central Los Angeles, and other parts of the country. The film takes place in the mid-1990s, when Webb uncovered the CIA's past role in importing huge amounts of cocaine into the U.S. that was aggressively sold in ghettos across the country to raise money for the Nicaraguan Contras' rebel army. Dark Alliance: Movie Tie-In Edition The CIA, the Contras, and the Cocaine Explosion by Gary Webb. [12], This petition was also spurred on after Focus Features failed to attend a private screening for the film hosted by the Writers Guild of America in mid-November, despite positive reviews for the film. (However, he also noted that Webb disagreed with him on this point.). By Mark Warren. Watch the Kill the Messenger movie trailer for the movie that tells the story of Gary Webb, a journalist who wrote about a link between the CIA and crack cocaine, accusing the organization of turning a blind eye to the cocaine coming into the U.S. from Nicaraguan drug traffickers, pointing out that the U.S. government had been backing the Nicaraguan Contras and did not want to stop the traffickers from reaping huge … Kill the Messenger (2014) Glenn Kenny. Kill the Messenger may offer up some sweet vindication for Gary Webb, but the real story behind the movie is a tale of anguish for the family. [4], Principal photography began on July 16, 2013 in several Georgia locations, including Atlanta, Cobb County and Decatur. You have reached your limit of 4 free articles. [12], On December 11, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment announced the DVD release date for Kill the Messenger, several days before the petition reached 2,500 signatures. The next year, he published a book titled Dark Alliance: The CIA, the Contras and the Crack Cocaine Explosion detailing his own reporting process and the controversy the series provoked. Humiliated by being scooped by a regional paper, the Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, and New York Times all dig into Webb's reporting. The film stars Jeremy Renner in his first film as a producer. 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