Tom McCarthy's biographical drama  Spotlight  won Best Picture at the Academy Awards in 2016. The film, featuring a stacked ensemble led by Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams and Mark Ruffalo, was widely praised for chronicling the investigative reporting by the Boston Globe that exposed the Catholic Church's systemic cover-up of sexual abuse of children by priests. A decade later, McCarthy says his influential film still hasn't galvanized enough change within the church.

 I've heard from a lot of people who saw the movie. A lot of people who felt understood after the movie was released,  McCarthy told Variety Saturday night at the New York Film Festival.  Has it caused a lot of change within the Catholic Church? In my opinion, not really. Not enough. It's not enough until every child is safe, as far as I'm concerned. And that's a zero sum game. So, I would like to see more change. 

Popular on Variety

McCarthy's new film,  A Statement,  could be seen as a cathartic response to the lack of institutional change that followed  Spotlight.  Bolstered by a strong ensemble led by Paul Rudd, the film follows 20 experts who attempt to reach a consensus on a statement to Congress about the effects of carbon dioxide emissions on the climate.

Based on a real-life conference that took place in St. Petersburg, Fla., in 1980, the film's opening text calls the gathering  the first meeting dedicated to solving the climate crisis in America.  The group, ultimately, never reached a consensus - and nearly 50 years later, the debate over carbon emissions continues to divide American politics.

 I'm very proud of [ Spotlight'],  McCarthy explained.  I think, as filmmakers, our job is to start a conversation, get people thinking about an issue, but draw a light on things. That's what I think we've done with  Spotlight,' and hopefully, we've done that with  A Statement.' This movie doesn't preach. There is a right and wrong here, but we want people to come to the table and have thaat conversation and listen. 

Coincidentally,  A Statement  premiered the same weekend Tom Cruise's  Digger  bombed at the box office

#variety  #podcastdailynews