Year of Release: 2019
Director: Scott Z. Burns
Starring: Adam Driver, Annette Bening, Jon Hamm, Michael C. Hall, Ted Levine, Maura Tierney, Corey Stoll, Linda Powell, John Rothman, Dominic Fumusa, Douglas Hodge, T. Ryder Smith, Tim Blake Nelson, Ben McKenzie, Scott Shepherd, Matthew Rhys, Jennifer Morrison, Kate Beahan, Lucas Dixon
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7
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Synopsis and Review:
Celebrated screenwriter (and frequent collaborator of the fantastic Steven Soderbergh), Scott Z. Burns makes his feature directorial debut with the impeccable "The Report". The film which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, and then followed suit by going through a slew of Film festivals in the fall, details the investigation which surrounded the CIA's post 9/11 Detention and Interrogation Program. The film focuses specifically on the work handled by Daniel J. Jones, who is tasked by Senator Dianne Feinstein, with leading a small team of researches and investigate the practices of Detention and Interrogation conducted by the CIA, which occurred following the events of 9/11. The investigation lasts for 5 years, across a multitude of documents and sources, finally producing a report of over 6000 pages. When that report becomes known to different parties, a power play of different stakeholders begins, all with the intent of keeping some information buried. Some of these forces stop at nothing, including accusing Jones from being a hacker and gathering information improperly. All these setbacks force everyone to question their standing, and what they ultimately want to move through.
"The Report" is a film that inherits the spirit of the late Alan J. Pakula's "All the President's Men" and to a more recent extent, James Vanderbilt's "Truth". It traces and details a thorough research process, into a topic that is controversial and brutal, something that was alluded to in Kathryn Bigelow's "Zero Dark Thirty", torture of prisoners. It's a film that is less concerned with character development, and more with the process of uncovering the truth, the hurdles that exist in making sure that same truth is unearthed and showcased to the public. The director manages to create a film that is engrossing, detailed, portraying the near endless journey experienced by Daniel J. Jones, uncovering everything pertaining to that program. It's a film that smartly showcases different points of view, different perspectives of the narrative, allowing for a better understanding of what was actually at stake. The film is obviously not a documentary, but there's a layer of didacticism, that is relevant and quite well staged. The cast is superb, with great performances by Annette Bening, Jon Hamm, Maura Tierney, Ted Levine, while Adam Driver in the central role, creates a character that has integrity and intensity, but is otherwise a solid and discrete professional. A very good film from a great writer.
"The Report" is a film that inherits the spirit of the late Alan J. Pakula's "All the President's Men" and to a more recent extent, James Vanderbilt's "Truth". It traces and details a thorough research process, into a topic that is controversial and brutal, something that was alluded to in Kathryn Bigelow's "Zero Dark Thirty", torture of prisoners. It's a film that is less concerned with character development, and more with the process of uncovering the truth, the hurdles that exist in making sure that same truth is unearthed and showcased to the public. The director manages to create a film that is engrossing, detailed, portraying the near endless journey experienced by Daniel J. Jones, uncovering everything pertaining to that program. It's a film that smartly showcases different points of view, different perspectives of the narrative, allowing for a better understanding of what was actually at stake. The film is obviously not a documentary, but there's a layer of didacticism, that is relevant and quite well staged. The cast is superb, with great performances by Annette Bening, Jon Hamm, Maura Tierney, Ted Levine, while Adam Driver in the central role, creates a character that has integrity and intensity, but is otherwise a solid and discrete professional. A very good film from a great writer.
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