Paterno is a drama film directed by Barry Levinson and premiered on HBO in 2018. It follows the story of legendary Penn State football coach Joe Paterno (played by Al Pacino) as he deals with the fallout from the Jerry Sandusky scandal. The film takes a close look at Paterno's involvement in the scandal and the events that led to his downfall.
The story begins in 2011, when Sandusky, a former assistant coach of the Penn State football team, is arrested for sexually abusing young boys over a period of several years. The scandal shakes the Penn State community and raises questions about the institution's response to the abuse. Paterno, who had been the coach of the team for over 40 years, is accused of failing to act on information about Sandusky's behavior and is fired by the university's board of directors.
The film depicts Paterno's struggle to come to terms with the allegations against Sandusky and his own role in the scandal. It also explores the impact of the scandal on his family, particularly his son Jay (played by Greg Grunberg), who is also a member of the Penn State coaching staff. Throughout the film, Paterno is shown grappling with the question of how much he knew about Sandusky's abuse, and whether he did enough to stop it.
Overall, Paterno is a powerful and thought-provoking film that brings to life one of the most controversial episodes in the history of college sports. With an outstanding performance by Al Pacino and a strong supporting cast, it provides a nuanced and complex look at the issues of power, responsibility, and institutional failure that underlie the Sandusky scandal.
