Review of The Fifth Estate (2013) by Orlando O — 01 Nov 2013

The Fifth Estate covers new grounds with the secret information leaks website WikiLeaks and events with editor in chief and founder Julian Assange and the spokesperson Daniel Domscheit-Berg. Is the movie a necessary provocative thriller that is based on two books by Domscheit-Berg and David Leigh and Luke Harding even needed? It could have been better adapted with an engaging direction being based on Julian Assange and Daniel Domscheit-Berg.

Daniel Domscheit-Berg (Daniel Bruhl) online activism duties has been followed by Julian Assange (Benedict Cumberbatch). They both began working for each other and correlating with WikiLeaks. WikiLeaks is a website organization that releases secret private information that is withheld from the public. They both expose some secret information that involves Scientology, Sarah Palin's email messages, and some details about the British National Party. Daniel and Julian partnership soon eventually fades as Daniel's personal life unravels on his failing relationships and the idea that leaking information can also put other people's lives at risk.

The plot is a bit mediocre; at times it did get kind of dull with no sense of any motivation in investing in the two lead characters. Julian Assange secrets of his own were slowly revealed through flashbacks about his childhood and cult related experiences.

Benedict Cumberbatch and Daniel Bruhl were outstanding as the two lead characters. There performances were the only highlights of the film and made the movie somewhat worth viewing. The rest of the casts Anthony Mackie, David Thewlis, Moritza Bleibtreu, Laura Linney, and Stanley Tucci were all-acceptable but the script made their characters felt backdrop to the story.

Bill Condon direction of The Fifth Estate really tried being visionary of its own but resulted in a techno paced dull thriller. Carter Burwell music score was consisting electronic and techno with the tone of the movie being based on networking. The music choice was fitting but felt like it was trying to be something interesting but failed to the lack of any special purpose of a provocative thriller.