Based on real events, film brings back the Contra scandal of the ‘80s

May 30, 2014 20:29 GMT  ·  By

If films based on true events are your thing, then you’ve come to the right place to see the trailer for one that’s opening later this year, in October. It’s called “Kill the Messenger” and has Jeremy Renner as lead, and looks incredibly promising.

The full trailer is embedded below. Besides Renner, you will probably recognize some of the supporting cast for their work in TV and films, including Michael Sheen, Paz Vega, Ray Liotta, Andy Garcia and Oliver Platt.

“Kill the Messenger” is directed by Michael Cuesta, whose most recent credits in the realm of television, but should not to be dismissed on this basis alone: “Homeland,” “Six Feet Under” and “Dexter” are just some of the shows he’s worked on.

The story is that of Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Gary Webb who worked for the San Jose Mercury News and stumbled on what would turn out to be the biggest scandal of the ‘80s in America, uncovering strong ties between the US government (the CIA in particular) and cartels smuggling drugs in the country, with the money from sales used then to buy weapons in Nicaragua.

The scandal would come to be known as the Contra affair, with Webb’s revelations being met with mixed response by the public, when he did finally go public with them. It was a process that didn’t put just his life in danger, but also those of his children and entire family, as we also find in this first trailer.

This is Renner’s first major role since “American Hustle,” a favorite at the most recent Oscars.

[YOUTUBE=www.youtube.com/watch?v=VW4XO-52ubE]