Snowden- Movie Review

The movie Snowden based on the life of former Computer Intelligence Consultant Edward Joseph Snowden played by Joseph Gorden-levitt. The movie was released in 2016. It is based on the incidents that occured between 2004-2013. It is directed by Oliver Stone and was written by Stone Kieran Fitzgerald.

 

Edward Snowden was being trained to be recruited into the army when an injury caused a hindrance. Snowden, a self-taught technical genius, decided to join the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) as a sub-contractor, where he soon rose to heights and joined the National Security Agency (NSA). It was here that he realized in the guise of security, the NSA tapped the servers of corporate giants like Microsoft, Yahoo, Apple, Facebook and many more, he also learned that they were tracking cell phones worldwide. As he continued to work for the NSA, it became increasingly clear to Snowden that software that he had designed like 'Epic Shelter' and 'Heartbeat' were being used, not to curb terrorism but to gain economic and social control. Knowing that he could not turn a blind eye to the public being robbed of their privacy without their consent, Snowden turned into a whistle-blower by leaking highly classified information from the NSA. Edward Snowden turned into a whistle-blower, fully aware that he might be charged with the espionage act in the FISA Court and how this might negatively affect his personal and family life.  

This movie received heaps of mixed reviews, with some people calling him a traitor and a spy, who was just another snake in the grass. While others applauded his bravery and called him a true patriot and a hero. Regardless of the ever-changing public opinion, this movie depicts the heroic act of selflessness displayed by a whistle-blower who prioritized the safety and privacy of billions of innocent citizens over his life and future.