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Clint Eastwood’s new movie Richard Jewell is already receiving critical acclaim. Arriving in theaters on Friday, December 13, the film, which currently boasts an 83% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes, is based on the true story of security guard Richard Jewell (portrayed by Paul Walter Hauser), who went from American hero to wrongfully accused terrorist after becoming the FBI’s number one suspect in the 1996 Centennial Olympic Park bombing.
If you’re unfamiliar with this fascinating story, ESPN produced a 30 for 30 short, Judging Jewell, which provides a comprehensive summary of this tragic tale.
Written and directed by Adam Hootnick, Judging Jewell is just one of the many 30 for 30 shorts available to watch on ESPN+. If you don’t have a subscription to ESPN’s over-the-top streaming service, the 20-minute documentary is also available for free on ESPN. Even if you’re familiar with the story, Hootnick’s enthralling look back at this fascinating event is the perfect streaming companion to Clint Eastwood’s film.
Judging Jewell does what all great documentaries set out to do: engage an audience while demystifying an unknown or misremembered slice of history.
If you’re looking for yet another documentary about the Richard Jewell story, The New York Times’ “Retro Report” produced an 11-minute short film, Olympic Bombing 1996: Richard Jewell, the Wrong Man, which is currently streaming for free on YouTube.
Also starring Olivia Wilde, Sam Rockwell, Kathy Bates, and Jon Hamm, Richard Jewell arrives in theaters on Friday, December 13.
