Eight Men Out (1988)
By
“When it does ever become necessary, or even essential to compromise one’s conscience so that a good can result from an evil action? Is it still possible to play fairly in a game that has been fixed from the start? Can someone still cheat and yet remain unscathed by the consequences of his actions?” Obviously, these questions are answered negatively for despite what a person can achieve through dishonesty and grift, his actions will still be publicly acknowledged, regardless of whether he wants to accept his personal responsibility. As Christ says in St. Luke’s Gospel:
there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed: nor hidden that shall not be known for whatever things you have spoken in darkness, shall be published in the light: and that which you have spoken in the ear in the chambers, shall be preached on the rooftops (Lk 12:2-3).
In the age of social media, it has become a norm to know the details surrounding the corrupt practices in both the political and ecclesiastical spheres, yet it has been ingrained in our public consciousness to the point that one’s understanding of the personal motives behind them are blackened by the results. In his 1988 film Eight Men Out, writer-director John Sayles challenges viewers to cross-examine the aura of scandal and understand the moral conflictions and personal tolls taken by those whose lives are greatly altered by the effects of corruption.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to 100 Movies Every Catholic Should See to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.
 | A guest post by
|