Back in 2012 Edward Snowden set the world alight when he released classified NSA document to journalists at The Guardian. Now Academy Award nominated director Oliver Stone is hoping for a similar reaction with his latest film Snowden.
The long-awaited movie stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt as the titular Edward Snowden, the infamous NSA agent who came to realise how pervasive the worldwide surveillance of innocent people by their own governments had become.
Open Road FilmsOutraged at the crime he sees being committed, he decides to leak this information to journalists at the cost of his own of his own freedom, and potentially his life.
Roped into the emerging conspiracy are an impressive supporting cast, including Shailene Woodley, Zachary Quinto, Rhys Ifans, and the always entertaining Nicolas Cage.
Open Road FilmsFrom the trailer things certainly look interesting, although I’m not sure about Gordon-Levitt’s accent, it may be accurate but I don’t know if I can sit through the whole film listening to that.
Funny accent aside, Snowden’s going to be a divisive picture for many and I’m positive it’ll get people talking. Even now the debate still rages over whether the ex-CIA agent is a hero or a traitor depending on personal politics.
Open Road FilmsHere’s the hoping that the film doesn’t whitewash Snowden’s actions or make him into a digital Robin Hood.
Hopefully it’ll examine both the positives and negatives that his decision had, and I pray that it balances both sides of the argument deftly.
Snowden opens later this year.
More of a concept than a journalist, Tom Percival was forged in the bowels of Salford University from which he emerged grasping a Masters in journalism.
Since then his rise has been described by himself as ‘meteoric’ rising to the esteemed rank of Social Editor at UNILAD as well as working at the BBC, Manchester Evening News, and ITV.
He credits his success to three core techniques, name repetition, personality mirroring, and never breaking off a handshake.