I went to one of the first Boston matinees of the movie Snowden today.
It was all very familiar territory: it could have been boring or–as with any subject I know a lot about–it could have been excruciating in its errors. It was neither. It held my attention, it did not disappoint.
But was it a good movie? I usually have tons of opinions, I fret over whether a movie hits the ten-minute mark right, whether the script is “economical”, whether characters are compelling, whether the plot is interesting. In this case I can’t say, I am not unbiased: I am an American. And this is really important material–important to any American.
I do know it was at least a competent movie, because it had me wanting to cry. I knew Edward Snowden was a hero, but Oliver Stone tugs for tears. At least from me.
Is it a great movie? Probably not, just because great movies are rare. But I don’t know. Ask me in a few years, I’ll know better. But right now I am kinda choked up over a man whose illusions were shattered, followed by his world being shattered as he followed his conscience with selfless acts.
Another bit of praise: Usually it is painful to see a movie on a topic that I know something about, worse if the movie is technical, and far worse if it is about a technical topic I know something about. This movie did well by that measure.
-kb, the Kent who thinks the three branches of government should not be secret legislative measures, implemented by secret executive orders and agencies, overseen by secret courts.
©2016 Kent Borg