Real-life Figure Misrepresented in “Spotlight” Movie Reaches Settlement with Studio

The movie “Spotlight,” about the Boston Globe’s investigation into the sex abuse scandal in the Catholic Church, has received rave reviews in general and a Best Picture win at the Academy Awards. But one of the people not happy with his depiction in the film was Jack Dunn, who is on the Board of Trustees of Boston College High School. His reason is that the “Spotlight” script put damning words in his mouth that were the opposite of his actual reaction.

As Kevin Cullen reported in the Boston Globe a few months ago in an article titled “When the Truth Ends Up on an Editing Room Floor”:

“Spotlight,” the movie about The Boston Globe’s Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation of the coverup of sexual abuse by Roman Catholic priests, had its general release on Friday and film critics agree: “Spotlight” is one of the best movies of the year.

Jack Dunn had a different reaction. After seeing the film at the Loews theater across from Boston Common, he stepped onto the sidewalk and threw up.

The movie sickened him because he is portrayed as someone who minimized the suffering of those who were sexually abused, as someone who tried to steer Globe reporters away from the story, as someone invested in the coverup.

“The things they have me saying in the movie, I never said,” Dunn said. “But worse is the way they have me saying those things, like I didn’t care about the victims, that I tried to make the story go away. The dialogue assigned to me is completely fabricated and represents the opposite of who I am and what I did on behalf of victims. It makes me look callous and indifferent.”

It says something that the Globe itself took up Dunn’s cause because the purpose of the broader story in “Spotlight” was exposing the truth. The other day, Jack Dunn received a little bit of justice:

On Tuesday, the studio softened its stance. “As is the case with most movies based on historical events, ‘Spotlight’ contains fictionalized dialogue that was attributed to Mr. Dunn for dramatic effect,” it said in a statement.

“We acknowledge that Mr. Dunn was not part of the Archdiocesan coverup. It is clear from his efforts on behalf of the victims at BC High that he and the filmmakers share a deep, mutual concern for victims of abuse,” the studio said.

David Rich, a Boston attorney representing Dunn, said his client is satisfied with the “clear and simple statement,” which he said is part of a broader private settlement that includes charitable donations to Resilient Kids, a Providence nonprofit that helps children, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay.

“This has only been about making sure the truth was known,” said Rich. “And this statement goes a far way to setting the facts straight.”

Originally, Dunn wanted the scene cut from the movie, but there’s no indication that is happening. Though he seems satisfied with the conclusion of the matter, the truth is that people who see “Spotlight” on video likely won’t know about this retraction of sorts. Hopefully, his reputation won’t be forever stained.

(Photo property Sony)