Julian Assange invented a computer program allowing
whistleblowers to remain anonymous when they submit information about wrongdoing
by their employers. The main goal of Wikileaks.org is to protect the identity
of those that submit documents to the site.
Director Bill Condon starts the film at the moment
where the Guardian, New York Times and Der Spiegel coordinate the release of
confidential U.S. Military documents leaked by Private Bradley Manning to the
site. The opening sequence is well crafted as the three publication jockey
around the start time as the Times wants to go early while Der Spiegel want
more time to publish.
Condon then heads back to 2007 when Assange and
WikiLeaks were unknown and struggling to get a 15-minute spot at a Berlin tech
event. Here we meet Daniel Berg (Daniel Bruhl) Assange's first hire and the
point of view for the piece. Berg's first assignment for the Internet Start up is
to gather information to verify a leak on an elaborate tax evasion scheme at
Swiss Bank Julian Baer.
The key to the WikiLeaks is the platform where a
poster submits a document. The initial submission goes through multiple
layers that renders attempts to find the location of the original point of
entry into the system impossible. The site itself does not have or maintain the
information. Their first shot at the U.S. government occurred when publishing
the protocols for detailing with detainees at Guantanamo Bay.
The films two lead actors deliver strong
performances. Benedict Cumberbach is notable as Assange the troubled
founder with zero social skills and issues that date back to his upbringing in
a cult in Australia. Daniel Bruel is credible as Berg the second in
command and moral compass of the organization. Berg constantly pushes for one
last fact check and a review of the consequence before they post.
Cinematographer Tobais Schliessler work is a highlight
of the piece. Bright rich colours dominate the screen. The script contains several
meeting scenes in nightclubs, bars, tech events and counterculture hot spots.
Schliessler sets the tone for these scenes using different lighting techniques
with an emphasis on vivid flashing images.
Where the movie falls short is its repeated use of
the same devices. First among these is the constant use of dueling laptops
amongst to demonstrate that the characters are doing very important programming
quickly. The other main offense is the multiple uses of the virtual server room
with rows and rows of desks showing nameplates of the main players. Perhaps the
worse sequence in the movie combine the two when Daniel and fellow programmer
Marcus (Moritz Bleibtreau) set up their laptops side by side to take down the
site punctuated by Daniel flipping over desks in the virtual room to leave no
doubt that the site has crashed.
Overall The Fifth Estate does not venture deeply
into the subject matter. The film does not include any perspective from a
whistle blowers point of view as they attempt to submit to the site. A
secondary story featuring three state department employees and a Libyan contact
serves as a distraction from the main story. The Fifth Estate is an uneven
effort that I cannot recommend despite. good performances from the two lead
actors. The material is weak and the script repetitive.
** Out of 4.
The Fifth Estate | Bill Condon | U.S.A. /
Belgium | 124 Minutes.
Tags: Whistleblower, WikiLeaks.org, Internet start
up, privacy, U.S. Government, Julius Baer Bank, Guantanamo Bay, U.S. Diplomatic
Cables.
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