Paterno

Paterno is a captivating drama that slips beneath the surface to explore the complex layers of one of the most controversial episodes in the history of college athletics. Directed by Barry Levinson, this HBO biopic is top-notch quality, offering a thought-provoking exploration of culpability and moral ambiguity. With an incredible central performance by Al Pacino, the movie portrays the life-altering events surrounding the legendary Penn State football coach, Joe Paterno.

The story is set in November 2011, following a time-line often segmented with flashbacks to build the intricate narrative. The filming revolves around the retired assistant coach Jerry Sandusky’s appalling sex scandal that shook the Penn State University to its core. Joe Paterno, the beloved head coach with a pristine reputation and the holder of the record for the most wins in college football history, comes under question. How much did he know about Sandusky’s crimes, and when did he know? What could he have done to stop it?

The film Paterno doesn’t aim to give definitive answers to the barrage of moral questions raised by this scandal. Instead, it plunges deep into the psyche of an old man, who had given his life to football, finding himself in the eye of a storm. Pacino’s portrayal of the venerable coach is astonishingly nuanced and deeply poignant. His depiction of Paterno’s struggle between loyalty to an old friend and moral duty to his students is a gravitas-laden anchor in a narrative that swings between recollections, interviews and deeply moving scenes of family interaction.

Kathy Baker portrays Sue Paterno, Joe’s wife, with a captivating mix of strength and vulnerability. Her character is seen bearing the brunt of the public humiliation while standing as a pillar of support for her husband. As the matriarch of the Paterno clan, she struggles to comprehend the reality of the horrific scandal. Her feeble attempts to hold the family together during this tumultuous time is vastly relatable and heart-wrenching.

Kenneth Maharaj brings a significant edge to the prosecutor’s role, challenging the god-like status of Paterno in the context of the scandal. Maharaj portrays the frustration, determination, and diligence necessary in an investigation shrouded in ambiguity and steeped in potential deception.

The film blurs the line between news and drama and highlights the daunting power of media. The clever use of real press clippings in the narrative combined with HBO's signature directorial precision makes this film a chilling documentation of a scandal that broke the hearts of millions of fans across America.

Levinson brilliantly uses the unfolding scandal as a focal point to examine the dynamics of power, silence, and ignorance. He delves into the societal structures that allowed such horrific events to occur, raising questions about accountability in a culture that sometimes puts reputation before justice. It's a razor-edged critique on the football-crazy culture of American campuses and the unfathomable power held by their revered coaches.

While the movie is a stark portrait of Paterno’s decline, it rarely takes a judgmental position on the man himself. Instead, it moves around the edges, offering layers of interpretation, while grounding itself firmly in the fact that a catastrophic crime was committed on his watch. It gives a sense of a deeply flawed man lost in the whirlpool of a scandal that rapidly spiraled out of control.

Paterno is challenging theatre that leaves audiences introspecting about larger societal issues. It is a character study, an insight into the convulsions that shook Penn State University, and fundamentally, a deeply human tragedy. This biographical drama is a must-watch for its critical exploration of a scandalous chapter in the annals of American college sports.