Snowden (2016)

The NSA's illegal surveillance techniques are leaked to the public by one of the agency's employees, Edward Snowden, in the form of thousands of classified documents distributed to the press.

Director:

Oliver Stone

Writers:

Kieran Fitzgerald (screenplay), Oliver Stone (screenplay)

Stars:

Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Shailene Woodley, Melissa Leo

3 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Melissa Leo	...	Laura Poitras
Zachary Quinto	...	Glenn Greenwald
Joseph Gordon-Levitt	...	Edward Snowden
Jaymes Butler	...	Drill Sergeant
Robert Firth	...	Dr. Stillwell
Rachel Handshaw	...	CIA Polygraph Adminstrator
Christian Contreras	...	CIA Psychologist
Parker Sawyers	...	CIA Interviewer
Rhys Ifans	...	Corbin O'Brian
Ken Thomas	...	Warrenton Gate Guard (as Kenneth Thomas)
Nicolas Cage	...	Hank Forrester
Michael Benz	...	CIA Student
Shailene Woodley	...	Lindsay Mills
Tom Wilkinson	...	Ewen MacAskill
Joely Richardson	...	Janine Gibson

Storyline

SNOWDEN stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt and is written and directed by Oliver Stone. The script is based on the books The Snowden Files: The Inside Story of the World's Most Wanted Man by Luke Harding and Time of the Octopus by Anatoly Kucherena.

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Plot Keywords:

internet | mass surveillance | nsa | whistleblower | based on true story | 

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Taglines:

One nation under surveillance for liberty and justice for all.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some sexuality/nudity

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official Instagram

Country:

France Germany USA

Language:

English American Sign Language

Release Date:

16 September 2016 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Snowden Files

Filming Locations:

Munich, Bavaria, Germany

Box Office

Budget:

$40,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$8,000,058, 16 September 2016, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$21,587,519

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$37,357,216

Company Credits

Production Co:

Endgame Entertainment, Vendian Entertainment, KrautPack Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

134 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Lindsey Mills and Edward Snowden message one another in a dating site with references the classic anime "Ghost in The Shell" which has parallels to this film. Both stories deal with former soldiers turned government officials whose entire lives are based around computers, and the moral problems that result from their work.

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Goofs

When Snowden leaves with the evidence in his Rubik's cube, he tells Gabriel he is not feeling well and is going home early. He might also not come in the next day, implying it's a work day. When he leaves the facility, the guard wishes him a nice weekend.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Glenn Greenwald: [sitting under a big green balloon alligator] So?
Laura Poitras: This is the only alligator.
Glenn Greenwald: Four minutes past. We walk in one minute. He was clear on that.
Laura Poitras: He's coming.
Glenn Greenwald: No, he is too young to have that kind of access.
Glenn Greenwald: [to Snowden as he walks up] Uh, what time does the restaurant open?
Edward Snowden: Noon. But the food is a bit too spicy. This way...

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Connections

References You've Got Mail (1998)

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Soundtracks

String Quartet No. 19 in C, K. 465, Dissonance III. Allegretto
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Emerson String Quartet
Courtesy of Deutsche Grammophon
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

I think it might be Oliver Stone's best film yet

I know he won best picture for platoon - which also was a serious endeavour - but its behind us.

Vietnam is over, Vietnam is done.

Snowden lives. Actually, Snowden escaped and survived.

He went to what might be the only place people can be protected from US government agencies. I would like to think all whistle blowers would have to do is cross into Canada but then Snowden would know. He was smart - he is smart.

I remember Bambi Bembenek. She blew a whistle too and made it to Canada. Poor thing.

This is a must see for all except those that don't care their protection set forth by the founders of the United States can be taken away by bullies, perhaps corrupted by limitless power of a new industrialized intelligence complex.

Masterful work by Oliver Stone.

Thanks for bringing it to Tiff.

Oliver, please ask for a theatre more appropriate for Q&A for Snowden 2.0