Earlier this year I was reading a book and found myself in the midst of a commentary about a scandal I had not thought of since it occurred. Joe Paterno was an example of just how far the sports world has come. Coaches, much like the players involved, are more than what they do on the field. They have risen to the realm of historical politicians. Around this country, we see monuments and statues, not just representing leaders (like George Washington or Abe Lincoln) of our military escapades and national strife, but also representing success in the games we most admire, coupled by massive contributions in their area of expertise and influence. Joe Paterno is not just a legendary collegiate football coach, in the state of Pennsylvania, but a figure of pride; a man of his people; a positive leader among young students and fans. In a way, he WAS the college of Penn State.

However, very late in his career, things rapidly changed. The new film, “Paterno,” centers its story around the legend, during these last, precious moments, though they are likely not seen by anyone as being all too precious, in actuality. A man by the name of Jerry Sandusky, played by Jim Johnson, had been associated with the football organization at Penn State for many years and was nailed on several counts of sex abuse, towards underaged boys. What became the center of attention, concerning Joe Paterno, played by Al Pacino (“Hangman”), is how much he knew about what was going on and for how long he allowed it to go on. It is said that we are often judged by the company we keep and in the case of Joe Paterno, it was no different.

“Paterno” was directed by Barry Levinson, who most-recently directed “The Wizard of Lies.” In this case, the movie is not just any film, but a cable television one, at that. As it happens, Levinson has worked in television programs since 1970, as well.

The film begins with several, short sound bites, as Joe Paterno heads into an MRI scanning machine. The results of his test are revealed much later. As he slides along, he recounts some recent memories, beginning with an important football game. One which would earn him a special place among the college football ranks. Shortly after the game, word begins to spread, all the way up to the suits of the Penn State college football organization. The only REAL concern for any of these men seems to be about saving their own hides and this themes persists throughout the story.

The remainder of the story focuses on just several people involved. One, who had the distinction of first breaking the story wide open, was Sara Ganim, played by Riley Keough (“Logan Lucky”). At first, I thought she was Alicia Silverstone. After careful consideration, I have decided that there is, indeed, a resemblance. The rest of the Paterno family is also in the mix: Kathy Baker (“The Ballad of Lefty Brown”) as Sue Paterno, Greg Grunberg (“Star Wars: The Force Awakens”) as Scott Paterno and Annie Parisse (“Anesthesia”) as Mary Kay Paterno.

Then there is Ben Cook, making his movie debut, as Aaron Fisher. His role is key for several reasons. When someone is truly a victim, how quiet should they be, in the face of scrutiny and criticism, all because what affected them is affecting someone who is perceived to be of greater importance? Fisher showed a great deal of courage, not only in surviving what occurred to him, but in how he went about exposing the truth, knowing the risk of what he would endure as a result, from his peers.

Joe Paterno, on the other hand, did NOT show courage. He hid behind denial and distractions and excuses. The film conveys this all very well, in my view. As Joe Paterno discovered how much life he had left to live, he spent the rest of his time contemplating what he should have done differently. Pacino was visibly distraught, as he recognized his fault and saw how his own family may have been even more directly impacted than he ever knew before.

The loyal fans remained so, to a great fault, as well. They refused to accept Joe Paterno’s lack of action and involvement and allowed their emotions to dictate their obscene behavior. Ganim suffered as the reporter on the scene, as well. Her own classmates and supposed friends turned on her, just for revealing the truth.

The big lesson to be learned, in ALL of this, is that we must be careful of how we view other people. When we deify those who are no different from us, we run the risk of being let down when we find out that they are, indeed, just like us. Ignorance, stemming from deep emotion only seems to further the problem. “Pacino” is shallow on story and is delivered at a fast pace, but the character structure and ultimate development of the title character, himself, is the key to the movie. Al Pacino truly delivers a top effort. Even if the rest of the cast does not rise to the same level, it is not needed and might have taken something away from Pacino’s performance. I believe the film was close to the best that it could be and I think HBO will enjoy a fair response.

Director: Barry Levinson
Screenwriters: Deborah Cahn and John C Richards
Starring: Al Pacino, Riley Keough, Kathy Baker, Greg Grunberg and Annie Parisse
Production: HBO Films
Distributor: HBO
Release: April 7th, 2018