Oliver Stone isn't known for his faithfulness to historical fact. That dynamic remains true in SNOWDEN, an excellent and entertaining, if fictionalized, thriller. Viewers who understand and accept that each side of this particular moral and political dilemma will not receive equally fair consideration in a Stone film will be entertained in spite of the whitewashing of relevant facts.
This movie lacks the nuance necessary to illustrate adequately that good people can do the wrong things for the right reasons on both sides of the ideological equation. Snowden was right: The U. S. government was engaging in criminal acts under the guise of national security. That's made clear in the film.
What isn't made clear is the seriousness of Snowden's crime when he took it upon himself to release unilaterally highly sensitive, classified information that put the U. S. and its agents at grave risk rather than blow the whistle through proper channels first.
Both Snowden and the government were wrong. Both deserve to suffer appropriate consequences. Nevertheless, Snowden is portrayed as wholly good and the U. S. government as wholly bad. Thinking people know things are never that simple, and had complex realities been acknowledged, it would have made for a better and more interesting film.
The movie itself is a gem! Well written, well directed, and well acted, with a stellar performance by Joseph Gordon-Levitt. It's a highly entertaining film and well worth the watch. But if you're looking for a history lesson, this isn't it.
This movie lacks the nuance necessary to illustrate adequately that good people can do the wrong things for the right reasons on both sides of the ideological equation. Snowden was right: The U. S. government was engaging in criminal acts under the guise of national security. That's made clear in the film.
What isn't made clear is the seriousness of Snowden's crime when he took it upon himself to release unilaterally highly sensitive, classified information that put the U. S. and its agents at grave risk rather than blow the whistle through proper channels first.
Both Snowden and the government were wrong. Both deserve to suffer appropriate consequences. Nevertheless, Snowden is portrayed as wholly good and the U. S. government as wholly bad. Thinking people know things are never that simple, and had complex realities been acknowledged, it would have made for a better and more interesting film.
The movie itself is a gem! Well written, well directed, and well acted, with a stellar performance by Joseph Gordon-Levitt. It's a highly entertaining film and well worth the watch. But if you're looking for a history lesson, this isn't it.