Audience Member
I read a review online from a guy who said the movie was so boring, that he watched only the first twenty minutes, and then gave up. Then he reviewed the movie on his blog and that review gets top hits on google search - it's not just sad, it is a disservice, that some guy who hasn't got the patience and intellect to watch the whole movie, gets his review read thousands of times a day probably.
But I guess on the internet, it is prudent to remember: YMMV.
This movie rewards people who seek the truth, to whom that search is important enough that they will take an interest and observe reality patiently. Initially, the movie appears to be just a "road movie," but as it goes along, it starts to dawn on you what it's really about: not just the third world media, but even the supposed free western media are very much in the pockets of vested interests - either because of money or because of political interest.
The editor of the Guardian is interviewed, and he basically admits that he can't publish the truth about some Russian oligarchs, because his paper would get sued, and the Guardian cannot afford to get sued (apparently in England, freedom of the press is at the mercy of lawsuits).
The most precious scene, near the end of the film - perhaps it is a climax! - is set in the offices of the New York Times, where our WikiLeaks team is interviewing the Editor (in Chief?). As he blathers on about how free he is to publish anything he likes, the camera roams around the room, capturing such gems as a photo of him with Obama, signed by Obama, etc. Illustrating how an unbiased editorial position is impossible here, when you are apparently good friends with the president.
Like a cherry on top of the cake, there is an unscripted moment, where another editor sticks his head in the room, and congratulations are exchanged on how nicely some article on Clinton came out (or maybe it was Obama, I can't recall, and don't have the reference at hand right this minute, and I can't find it online!). Anyway, the upshot is, it all fit perfectly.
Without any narration at all, Assange's film argues very eloquently and convincingly that media in all countries, East or West, are corruptible, if not already corrupted. In a world where information is power, institutions like WikiLeaks recover some of that power for the little people.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
02/23/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Reveals how most news sources will brag about being "democratic", "the voice of the people", or "independent" while in reality they have overlords in Washington DC who's permission they need (and typically never get) to publish articles that would enlighten the public to government and corporate corruption using Wikileaks sources.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
02/16/23
Full Review
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