REALITY (2023)

 

Directed & Based On The Play By: Tina Satter Written By: Tina Satter & James Paul Dallas  Cinematography: Paul Yee  Editor: Ron Dulin And Jennifer Vecchiarello 

Cast: Sydney Sweeney, Josh Hamilton, Merchant Davis, Benny Elledge

Profiles the arrest of 25-year-old Air Force linguist and NSA contractor Reality Winner for leaking classified information pertaining to Russian interference in the 2016 US Presidential election to the press. Adapted from the 2019 stage play, with dialogue pulled directly from Reality Winner's FBI interview.

This film is expertly executed, but that is the strength of the film. End of itself is the execution of replaying and sticking to the transcripts of what actually happened, and then in their own way, the performers breathe life into the characters in the situation. 

Which from a technical standpoint is amazing but from the audience's point of view is intriguing, but not necessarily entertaining. Your interest in the film will be in either. How much you already know about the story or how little you know about the story.

As if you don’t know, it does build a cell that you keep wondering where this is leading to and why the FBI agent's attitude and demeanor are play for one second and then Serious in the next, and every time she tries to make light of the situation or joke around they become severe, but every time she becomes timid then all of a sudden they’re so conversational and willing to joke around.

This started as more of a theatrical piece before being adapted into a feature-length film. It seems that it might be more interesting as a theatrical piece as in the film it cuts in and out of the actual transcript of the movie to pictures of the real-life reality winner in the character. That will take place in essentially one location found and does excel at opening it up so that it doesn’t feel claustrophobic even as they close in on her and see the trap of her and More and More Corners.

It’s more intimate than a documentary could be as it presents the facts and leaves you to come up with your own conclusions. The actors are all excellent and the performances are strong. 

It comes across as simple and quick. Those serious in fact base it feels light. 

Grade: C+