Movie Title: Snowden
Grade: B
Rating: R, 134 minutes
In a Nutshell: Joseph Gordon-Levitt gives a solid,
thought-provoking performance in this controversial Oliver Stone biopic of an
equally controversial man who affected how we view national security and
personal privacy today. Was Edward
Snowden a hero or hacker?
If you don’t know much about Edward Snowden, this film will
give you some background, as well as a fairly slanted view.
Uplifting theme:
- “The internet is technology that has the
power to help everyone in the world understand each other.” – Snowden
- “One
man can stop the motor of the world.” – Ayn Rand
- “I’m
questioning our government. That’s
what we do in this country. That is the principle we’re founded on.” – Lindsay
- “Sometimes
the more you look, the less you see.” - Hank Forrester
- What
is justifiable for the greater good?
- Edward
and Lindsay visit a Theodore Roosevelt memorial where this quote is
etched, “A man’s usefulness depends upon his living up to his ideals in so
far as he can. It’s hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to
succeed. All daring and courage,
all iron endurance of misfortune make for a finer, nobler type of manhood.”
Things I liked:
- It’s a
fascinating look at Edward Snowden’s life as it moves from being in the
military to being recruited into secretive government agencies. Laura Poitras won an Oscar for her 2014 documentary
“Citizenfour”, which has been touted as being more straightforward, while
Oliver Stone’s film has a softer touch, designed to inspire.
- It
will make you think twice before you click on the terms and policy
agreement of web sites and cell phones services.
- You’ll
probably put a small piece of paper on your computer web camera.
- You
get to see video footage of the real Edward Snowden at the end, as well as
some photographs of him and Lindsay.
- Joseph Gordon-Levitt nails Edward Snowden's voice and physical characteristics.
Things I didn’t like:
- Some
good actors play very small roles, such as Shailene Woodley, Nicolas Cage,
Joely Richardson, Timothy Olyphant, and Zachary Quinto.
- Oliver
Stone paints a picture of an idealistic hero without any flaws.
- It’s
truly frightening what is being tracked by many of the governments in the
world and the power they have over our lives.
- Oliver
Stone sets patriotic music to the moment when Snowden betrays his country
and leaks classified information to the press, an interesting choice for
reflecting on the First Amendment.
The real Edward Snowden said about this trailer, "For two minutes and thirty-nine seconds, everybody at NSA just stopped working."
Interesting lines:
- “Bombs
don’t stop terrorists; only brains will and we don’t have millions of
them.” – Corban O’Brian
- “Where
is your sin of choice?” – Hank Forrester
- “Ah,
computers.” - Snowden
Well then, Snowden. You’ve come to the right little whorehouse.” –
Hank Forrester
- “No
matter what justification you’re selling yourself, this is not about
terrorism. Terrorism is the
excuse. This is about economic and
social control. And the only thing
you’re really protecting is the supremacy of your government.” – Snowden
Funny lines:
- “Why
do you want to join the CIA Corban O’Brian
“Ah, frankly, Sir, it sounds really
cool to have top security clearance.” – Snowden
- In the
movie, Snowden is asked about influences on his life. He answers, “I’d say Joseph Campbell,
Star Wars, Thoreau, Ayn Rand.”
Tips for
parents:
- Several
F-bombs and other profanity.
- This
movie is Rated R, because of the F-bombs and scenes with a lady in her
underwear, topless photos on a computer screen, and an “exotic” dancer on
a pole.
- Nudity
during a pretty graphic sex scene.
- Snowden
is shown having epileptic seizures.
- Two
people shoot birds with hunting rifles.
- Social
drinking and smoking.
No comments:
Post a Comment