Movie Review: Paterno (2018)

I just recently saw Chappaquiddick, and this movie honestly covers many of the same themes. There’s a man, Joe Paterno (Al Pacino), who makes a grave error in judgment and tries to live up to his legendary reputation, ultimately for it to sink him. Sure, Ted Kennedy didn’t lose his job because of the Chappaquiddick incident, but at least it kept him from the White House.

Al Pacino is really good here as Joe Paterno.

He’s definitely got the look, but he gives a powerful, mannered performance. I’ve been critical of Pacino for basically being a parody of himself ever since Scarface, always going over the top. Here, he doesn’t do that, and wisely so.

The movie is pretty slow, but it works. There are interesting questions raised throughout, and I really like Riley Keough as the journalist that helps to bring Paterno and Sandusky down.

Rating: 7/10