'Spotlight,' 'Patriots Day' and 2 others reach Final Four | Voting open

'Spotlight,' 'Patriots Day' and 2 others reach Final Four | Voting open

'Spotlight,' 'Patriots Day' and 2 others reach Final Four | Voting openZulekha Monique Pitts, Janson McNair and Faith Harrington,

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You have selected the Final Four of Best Movies and Show Based on a True Story from Massachusetts.

If you are new to the bracket, welcome! You have two weeks left to make sure your vote is heard.

Here's what's happening. The 11 USA TODAY Network papers in Massachusetts are working together to find the Best Movie (or limited series) Based on a True Story from Massachusetts. Over the past two weeks, your votes have narrowed 32 to potential winners down to four.

This week the winner of each region - True Crime, Against All Odds, Trailblazers and Historic Moments - will go on to battle for the semi-finalist round. What does it mean to be the best? That is up to each voter — most accurate, most dramatic, or just the one you love — to decide.

Read a little about each movie/series, head a streaming service if you want to watch one, and vote in our matchups. Here's Round 4 with 4 adaptations for you consider. Voting will close at 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25. The fifth and final round of voting will open on Wednesday, Oct. 28.

True Crime vs Against All Odds

"Spotlight" will represent the True Crime region in the Final Four. It beat out "Black Mass" this past week in the closest of the four matchups; voting was 57% to 43%. In other head-to-head match ups, "Spotlight" has beat "Boston Strangler" and "JFK." The other movies in the region were "Chappaquiddick" and "The Girl from Plainville," "Murder on the Cape" and the newest release "Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story."

Mark Wahlberg in "The Fighter" didn't make it past Wahlberg in "The Perfect Storm." The story about the men aboard Andrea Gail and their loved ones at home beat out "The Fighter" with 80% of the vote. Earlier in this category, "The Finest Hours," "Captain Phillip," "The Pregnancy Pact," "Stronger," "A Civil Action" and "21" all lost.

Spotlight vs The Perfect Storm

“Spotlight,” released in 2015, turns one of Boston’s biggest journalism stories into an Oscar-winning newsroom drama. The film follows The Boston Globe’s Spotlight team as reporters uncover decades of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and a wider institutional cover-up. The real investigation won the Globe the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service. Hollywood followed suit. “Spotlight” went on to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. Where you can watch it now: fuboTV, Tubi, YouTube Free, Kanopy and available to rent or buy digitally.

"The Perfect Storm" (2000) is based on the disappearance of a commercial fishing vessel, Andrea Gail, off the coast of Gloucester. In October 1991, the ship and its six-man crew found themselves in the middle of a rare and catastrophic weather event that brought together hurricane-force winds and dangerous waves to the sea, sinking the ship and all men aboard. The intense disaster drama portrays the men’s struggles to return to the coast following a scant fishing day. Where you can watch it now: Philo and other streaming platforms

Vote now for "Spotlight" or "The Perfect Storm."

Trailblazers vs Historical Moments

In the Trailblazers region, "John Adams," the only limited series left in the bracket beat out "The Social Network," the 2010 precursor to this year's "The Social Reckoning." The HBO drama received 72% of the vote over the Sorkin movie. Earlier competitors in this region were "Malcom X," "Julia," "Dickinson," Maestro," "Temple Grandin" and "Professor Marston and the Wonder Women."

The winner of the Historic Moments region is "Patriots Day" with 82% of the vote of the "Salem Witch Trials." "Patriots Day" had beat "Glory" and "The Great Debaters" in earlier rounds. While "Salem Witch Trials" had bet "The Kennedys of Massachusetts" and "Julie and Julia." The other movies in this category were "Tracks of Glory" and "The Legend of Lucy Keyes."

John Adams vs Patriots Day

“John Adams” (2008) is a seven-part HBO miniseries portraying the presidency of John Adams as well as his role as a founding father. Adams lived in what is now Quincy. He was Massachusetts' representative to the Continental Congress and more. Paul Giamatti stars as the titular role and earned high praise, winning the Primetime Emmy for “Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries of a Movie,” in 2008, according to the Television Academy. Where you can watch it now: HBO MAX

“Patriots Day” released in 2016 is an action thriller based on the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings. Featuring Mark Wahlberg as Sgt. Tommy Saunders, Kevin Bacon as FBI Special Agent Richard DesLauriers and John Goodman as Police Commissioner Ed Davis, the film follows a team of key figures during the marathon and following days-long terrorist manhunt. Where you can watch it now: Amazon Prime Video

Vote now for "John Adams" or "Patriots Day."

Remember voting in Round 4 with 4 movies/limited series for you consider will close at 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25. The fourth round of voting will open on Wednesday, Oct. 28.

Caitlyn Kelleher of the USA TODAY Network contributed to this article.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: 'Spotlight,' 'Patriots Day' and 2 others reach Final Four | Voting open

Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.


Source: Crime

 

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