Snowden: Collector’s Edition 4K Ultra HD Review

THE MOVIE — 2½/5

Note: This portion was copied from my 2016 Blu-ray review.

Snowden is the politically-charged thriller reveals the untold personal story of Edward Snowden (JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT), the controversial figure who exposed shocking illegal surveillance activities by the National Security Agency and became one of the most wanted men in the world. A hero to some and a traitor to others, the provocative story of what led him to that fateful decision makes for one of the most compelling stories in recent history.

The film explores his tenuous relationship with girlfriend Lindsay Mills (SHAILENE WOODLEY) and his early days working for the CIA and developing the very programs that would lead to the mass surveillance. Within, he meets a variety of people from CIA recruiter/instructor and mentor Corbin O’Brien (RHYS IFANS); CIA employee-turned-professor-to-keep-quiet Hank Forrester (NICOLAS CAGE); and a CIA agent out of Geneva (TIMOTHY OLYMPHANT) where Snowden first got field experience and became disillusioned with the United States and the shady things the agency does, although for whatever reason, he keeps doing his job despite the flashing warning signs that this profession just might not be for him…

There are other side characters introduced though, like O’Brien (and Forrester for that matter, though he’s possibly based off of a man named William Binney), they’ve probably are an invention to add to the Hollywood drama, as such is the case with these “Based on True Story” (or Actual Events). Beyond the characters, though, the movie also omits some things such as a scene toward the end where Snowden, with a stroke of a key, deletes access to the classified files leaving it to documentary filmmaker Laura Poitras (MELISSA LEO) — who directed Citizenfour which people should watch instead of this fictionalized account — and journalists Glenn Greenwald (ZACHARY QUINTO) and Ewen MacAskill (TOM WILKINSON), and yet in a real-life interview he admitted wanting to dissimilate the files to media in other countries (China and Russian officials most certainly already have had access).

However, beyond the truth or, let’s say, embellishments, Snowden as a movie just never clicks. The movie is absolutely cold with nothing or no one to really like where even the title character himself isn’t exactly likeable to the point I left with a lesser opinion of the man considering the relationship Oliver Stone portrayed between Snowden and his girlfriend, a relationship which he didn’t come out smelling like roses. I realize the point Stone and company were trying to make was his job, and subsequent paranoia, were taking a personal toll but it didn’t come across that way.

The other issue was the usual heavy-handed scenes Stone is known for in these “bio-pics” (see JFK and Nixon). One scene that stood out involved Snowden in a conference room and on the big screen is the fictionalized Corbin O’Brien, confronting Snowden with lying on a polygraph and later, makes clear, when Snowden admits to doubts about Lindsay, assures him that his girlfriend has been faithful (insinuating that the couple are being spied upon). Now, this scene was supposed to be creepy and anonymous, and certainly Ifans exudes creepiness, but in this case, I found it laughable, not so much that the CIA or NSA isn’t dangerous but the over dramatized nature Stone presents makes it hard to take seriously.

Fact is, if you’re 100% on board with what Snowden did, you’ll love this, if you hated it, you’ll hate it and if you’re like me and there’s a big old gray area (liking the message but disliking the messenger; and this movie did nothing to make him likeable, far from it), then you might not get much out of this. Instead of watching this, go ahead and rent – or even buy – the far superior Citizenfour.

SPECIAL FEATURES – 4/5

This release comes with a matted slip cover.

Audio Commentary with Co-Screenwriter/Director Oliver Stone

Interviews

• Co-Screenwriter/Director Oliver Stone (25:15)
• Producer Moritz Borman (16:13)
• Producer Eric Kopeloff (21:58)
• Editor Alex Marquez (9:53)
• Cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle (8:59)

Deleted Scenes (8:51) – A handful of scenes are included however nothing of note or would’ve added to the story or Snowden as a character.

Finding the Truth (3:57) is a short behind-the-scenes featurette with on-location interviews with members of the cast and crew. It’s nothing more than an advert for the movie than anything in-depth.

Snowden: Q&A (41:00) – Co-Writer/Director Oliver Stone, Edward Snowden (via video) and Actors Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Shailene Woodley answer a variety of questions moderated by Matt Zoller Seitz (Editor-in-Chief of rogerebert.com and TV critic).

Trailer (1:25)

4K UHD VIDEO – 4½/5, BLU-RAY VIDEO – 4½/5

Snowden makes its debut onto 4K Ultra HD from Shout Studios where it’s presented here in the original theatrical 1.85 widescreen aspect ratio and given a 2160p (and 1080p on Blu-ray) high-definition resolution. The picture is good looking for sure with sharp detail while colors are a bit more tamped down though some does come through.

AUDIO – 3/5

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is rather weak which I suppose should be expected for a movie that is almost entirely dialogue-driven with minimal, or at least not noticeable to my ears, score. The rear channels are mainly relegated to minor ambient noises. But even as dramas go, this wasn’t exactly robust but instead merely adequate for what it is.

OVERALL — 3½/5

Snowden as a person is interesting but Oliver Stone’s bio-drama fails to make a connection for me although the subject matter behind his actions should’ve made for a great drama and instead I found it pretty lackluster. That said, Joseph Gordon-Levitt does a good job imitating Snowden and Stone does give us a great supporting cast that includes Melissa Leo, Zachary Quinto and Tom Wilkinson.