Snowden

— I’m a fan of Oliver Stone and have been since “Platoon”. “Snowden” is his latest bit of liberal storytelling based on facts and focusing on a disillusioned “patriot”. It’s a mostly well done story and Joseph Gordon-Levitt does an excellent job—he may be more believable in the role than Edward Snowden himself! I worry that, with news reporting having morphed into opinion and with personal opinion now given a wide and gullible audience thanks to social media, viewers are more likely to miss the distinction between documentary and fiction and between fact and perspective, as well as to believe in black and white instead of gray. The best part of Stone’s films are that they make you consider where truth lies and when ends justify means. It’s a good film, toned down enough that it won't enrage anyone, but it should get you thinking about our technological reality and the faded line between privacy and safety. Check it out.

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[2016. 134 min. Directed by Oliver Stone. Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Shailene Woodley, Melissa Leo, Zachary Quinto, and Rhys Ifans.]
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/16/movies/snowden-review-oliver-stone-joseph-gordon-levitt.html