Genius. Traitor. Hero. Snowden.

A thrilling fact-based filmed upheld on the shoulders of a tremendous Joseph Gordon-Levitt. 

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​Overall, Snowden is a decent biopic thriller on 2013's National Security Agency (NSA) illegal surveillance leak by the man himself Edward Snowden. Gordon-Levitt does an outstanding job at his Snowden incarnation and it was also good to see Oliver Stone (Platoon, Natural Born Killers and JFK) back in the director's chair. Those familiar with the story know that the film follows Edward Snowden, an American computer professional who leaked classified information from the NSA to The Guardian in June of 2013.

At times, Snowden is a little too safe in its direction and layout of the story; nevertheless, Stone still manages to make an absorbing biopic. His skills allow him to dig deeper beyond the scandal, laying out all of the facts in a honorable dramatization. The film really begins to soar thanks to the provocative performance from Gordon-Levitt. His voice alone is terrific and captures the pure essence of Snowden’s humanist. So after a four-year hiatus, Stone returns to the screen to deliver yet another American story.

​Though without its flaws, Snowden will definitely get people thinking and talking about surveillance, privacy and the structure of our government. So call him what he is: a whistleblower, a hero or a traitor. Edward Snowden saw flaws in our government and presented them to our democracy. Stone saw those very flaws too, while also seeing Snowden’s gifted mind as he presented them onto the screen. 

Snowden is rated R (Restricted). For language and some sexuality/nudity.