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This weekend Kill the Messenger will hit theaters, bring the story of one of our country’s ugliest scandals to the big screen. More specifically, it delves into the life of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Gary Webb, who put a spotlight on the CIA’s active role in cocaine MV5BNDM5MDIxNzYyNV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMDUzMTk4MTE@._V1_SX214_AL_trafficking and arming of Nicaraguan militias in the 1990s.

Jeremy Renner –and an unbelievable cast of amazing folks like Rosemarie DeWitt, Michael K. Williams, Oliver Platt, Michael Sheen, Ray Liotta, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, along with a ton of others– takes a powerful turn as the troubled journalist whose bombshell story made him a target of not only those implicated in the story, but all those who missed out on the story themselves.

I was lucky to have a chance to chat briefly with the film’s director, Michael Cuesta. A writer, director, and producer, this is a guy responsible for a ton of television pilots (Dexter, Homeland) and series episodes from shows spanning the spectrum from network to cable. Here are some choice discussions straight from the man’s mouth, which I hope you enjoy.

Watch the trailer for the film here.

Find more info and showtimes near you here.

Check out Jeremy Renner’s AMA here, and Ray Liotta’s here.

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On the beginning of his involvement and attraction to the project…

On Jeremy Renner’s role as a producer…

His take on the state of Television and Film as popular, creative mediums…

 

 

(Big thanks to Matt Rodriguez for helping a dude out when his recorder shit the bed.)