The kid did it

Rating: 8/10 (12 September 2017)

This is a biopic of Edward Snowden (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) covering the years from 2004-2013 told as a flashback with some narration. The film shows his training, the fact he didn't finish high school, his time with the CIA, and then using the "intelligence revolving door" as a contractor. The film also concentrates on his relationship with the liberal leaning Lindsey Mills (Shailene Woodley) who appears to be an influence on his decision to be a "martyr".
We see the development of Snowden's ideology as he witnesses entrapment, endangerment, blackmail, and killing of suspect terrorist with little to no over site. But what really set him off was the idea of the NSA can see Lindsey's tatas and American privacy was not a FISA court issue.
This is an Oliver Stone film so the slant should go without saying, although the issue of government spying transcends most politics here and across the world. Stone creates fictional characters and relationships to weave his tale in a more concise, entertaining, and informative manner. These "nuances" (sometimes known as lies) need to be overlooked to enjoy a Stone film, which is about theme. This one raises the debate of freedom vs security, but not as entertainingly as "A Few Good Men." Did Snowden expose our intelligence gathering ability and damage our security? Has anything really changed? How would we know? Personally if I had a high paying job in paradise with Shailene Woodley demanding I spend more time with her...I might put off martyrdom for a while as I created a nest egg in an offshore numbered account.
Nicolas Cage haters can breathe easy that he has only a small role.
Guide: F-word. 1 sex scene. Brief computer screen nudity.