Release Date: September 16, 2016

MPAA Rating: R

Writing Credits: Kieran Fitzgerald, Oliver Stone, Anatoly Kucherena, Luke Harding

Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Shailene Woodley, Melissa Leo, Zachary Quinto

Our Rating: C-

In 2013, Edward Snowden made headlines when he leaked top secret information about National Security Agency (NSA) surveillance activities. In the movie Snowden, events leading up to the way Snowden leaked the information are explained and the process in which he took to spread the information is depicted.

The beginning shows Snowden in Hong Kong calling three of the best journalists he could find to document what he had to say to spread the government’s secrets. The movie is basically going back from the beginning of Snowden’s career and how he started. After watching how he came to be with the three journalists, the movie goes straight to the immediate aftermath of his actions and how he was able to seek refuge in Moscow, Russia.

“This movie looks very dull and uninteresting so I would not want to watch it,” junior Harrison Stampler said.

Many viewers noticed that the scenes themselves did not disappoint. Scenes were flashy and entertaining, but the dull plot left audiences unfulfilled. Joseph Gordon-Levitt led a great performance and has received recognition from critics and viewers alike on how his acting was so memorable. Alongside the director of the movie and the leading actor, the safe plot hindered what the movie really could have been. Even with the many good qualities of the movie, it was not enough and the critics were unanimous in saying that, unlike the actual events, the film was boring and unmemorable.

Due to the movie’s slow plot and few action scenes, Snowden is not really a must see unless you don’t know the story of Edward Snowden and want a glimpse of what happened.