Review of Snowden (2016) by Orlando O — 16 Sep 2016

Oliver Stone's political thriller film going over the several years of Edward Snowden leading to his training for special forces to recruitment in the CIA to being a most wanted man in the country.

His film could have led the direction of giving a bad rep on what Snowden has done. Instead, Stone lets the events in the film play out naturally on whom he was, his perspective on the government, and why he did what was best.

Snowden (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is a smart, ambitious, and loves his country very much. He was eager to serve; even after his injury in Special Forces training leads him to applying for the CIA. Where his mentor Corban (Rhys Ifans) brings him into a digital world of espionage.

Finding that the CIA is not just listening in on their enemies through digital devices, emails, cameras, and following their families and friends through a stream of networks. But his friends and people in his country are all being monitored as well.

Going against his conservative path about trying to make the country a better place. Plus his concerns about the choices that the CIA and NSA was making on monitoring peoples emails, media apps like facebook, skype, and there webcams.

He can accept the hunt for terrorism, but to what extent with the monitoring as it leads to a web of connections from person to person and following up around the globe. Snowden's actions on leaking information out of the CIA to get this operation out to the public does lead him to being the number target for a manhunt.

The film tries not to be too political but more of an understanding on Snowden's experience and concerned about the nations security. It sways away from being political by giving Snowden's personal life that is following with him during his time in the CIA like his relationship with his girlfriend Lindsay (Shailene Woodley).

From the moments of meeting in chat rooms to greeting in person. The sub plot of their believable struggling relationship as she goes wherever he is assigned to next by relocating their residence. Snowden's emotional distance with her from stressful situations in his work tries to make the movie about Snowden's personal life and the person he is besides being too political.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is a fantastic actor and did great with the portrayal as Snowden. Rhys Ifans also did well, by giving a sinister menacing performance as his mentor. What did not work with the film is the direction pace over the several years.

Oliver Stone direction does cover the important events of Snowden's perspective but the pace can be slow and boring at times. The film could have had a better music score for a digital espionage thriller but is left flat on Craig Armstrong score.

Snowden is a fair film following Edward Snowden's events of doing what believes is right.