This film is hugely interesting from a historical and voyeuristic perspective--who doesn't want to be a fly on the wall when the story of the decade is breaking? But since it's made by one of Snowden's collaborators, the story's a bit incomplete. Fred Kaplan says all this in Slate far better than I could (link below), but the film doesn't seem to much care how indiscriminate Snowden's leaks were, or about his strange later relationship with the Russian government.
I admire Snowden deeply for blowing open the domestic spying story, but a more complex portrait would have pointed out that not everything about the guy seems so wise or so courageous.It's a shame Poitras couldn't find that distance.
Eh. Not that Snowden and this movies issues aren't important. Just knowing how Chelsea Manning is spending the holidays, how awful Aaron Swartz's demise was, along with how thing really was revealed for me from Snowden's leaks, makes this just okay for me, especially after catching up with Chelsea's current affairs and re-watching Aaron Swartz doc.
What's great is that it plays out in real time. Snowden met with the filmmakers leading up to and during the leaks. It shows what Snowden was thinking and going through as the media became aware, not just after the fact.
Aside from that, the documentary doesn't really point out anything about the leaks the media didn't already cover in 2013. It gives the earliest and unbias account of Snowden, as well as presents the facts in a concise manner, making it easy for someone to follow, even if they know nothing about the event. The filmmaker got lucky that Snowden picked her to help him tell this story, and Snowden got lucky the filmmaker he picked was such a qualified and understanding journalist.
Brilliant film, and not just because it's so important. It's fantastically edited and plays out like a spy thriller. Feels like it could have been twice as long and still have a lot of vital material left out.
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Comments 1 - 10 of 10
DaniloFreiles
Terrificante.Groovy09
One of the best documentaries of the decade, and since NSA is probaly watching, im just gonna say that everyone sould see this filmShazaaaam
This film is hugely interesting from a historical and voyeuristic perspective--who doesn't want to be a fly on the wall when the story of the decade is breaking? But since it's made by one of Snowden's collaborators, the story's a bit incomplete. Fred Kaplan says all this in Slate far better than I could (link below), but the film doesn't seem to much care how indiscriminate Snowden's leaks were, or about his strange later relationship with the Russian government.I admire Snowden deeply for blowing open the domestic spying story, but a more complex portrait would have pointed out that not everything about the guy seems so wise or so courageous.It's a shame Poitras couldn't find that distance.
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/war_stories/2014/10/citizenfour_review_laura_poitras_edward_snowden_documentary.html
skinny_much
Eh. Not that Snowden and this movies issues aren't important. Just knowing how Chelsea Manning is spending the holidays, how awful Aaron Swartz's demise was, along with how thing really was revealed for me from Snowden's leaks, makes this just okay for me, especially after catching up with Chelsea's current affairs and re-watching Aaron Swartz doc.Torgo
A gripping document of very contemporary history, also well-shot, edited and examined.mysteryfan
I seriously recommend this to all the insomniacs in the worldPlease see this and you will sleep like a baby
MrDoog
Engrossing documentary made in real time. It's chilling, suspenseful, well made and covering a very important subject matter. Well worth a lookNeverTooEarly MoviePredictions
Chances are pretty good that the NSA is spying on iCheckMovies also, so if I'm going to check this off, I might as well mark it as a favorite too.nowhereman136
What's great is that it plays out in real time. Snowden met with the filmmakers leading up to and during the leaks. It shows what Snowden was thinking and going through as the media became aware, not just after the fact.Aside from that, the documentary doesn't really point out anything about the leaks the media didn't already cover in 2013. It gives the earliest and unbias account of Snowden, as well as presents the facts in a concise manner, making it easy for someone to follow, even if they know nothing about the event. The filmmaker got lucky that Snowden picked her to help him tell this story, and Snowden got lucky the filmmaker he picked was such a qualified and understanding journalist.
8/10
TalkingElvish
Brilliant film, and not just because it's so important. It's fantastically edited and plays out like a spy thriller. Feels like it could have been twice as long and still have a lot of vital material left out.