★★★★
The true story of a British whistleblower who leaked information to the press about an illegal NSA spy operation designed to push the UN Security Council into sanctioning the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Classification: 15
Probably the most important film of the year, director Gavin Hood delivers a powerful story about truth and loyalty through the real-life actions of whistleblower Katharine Gun. Considering the frenzied nature of modern western politics, the controversies revolving around the 2003 invasion of Iraq and subsequent war can feel like a lifetime ago but Hood's direction subtly displays that the dirty politics that marred our countries then, is the same as now. Governments lie, they lie to their democratic voters to push their selfish agendas for-profit and ideology, we know that the intelligence for Iraq was fraudulent, that George Bush and Tony Blair most likely committed war crimes and that the military-industrial complex made billions in profit from the war. The only true opposition to this corruption is the truth, that loyalty doesn't belong to governments but country, to the ideals of that country. Once more we find ourselves in a world of lying governments, selfish leaders, and frenzied nationalism outweighing logic so Hood reminds us of that the only survival to this treachery is with bravery. That in times when it all seems hopeless, one person, one whistleblower can change everything and that is a message many people need right now.
Official Secrets looks at a Britain before the invasion through Keira Knightley's Katharine Gun working as a translator for GCHQ, and also through Matt Smith's Martin Bright a journalist at the newspaper The Observer. Support is high, and there is an almost propagandist approach to how the war is being reported by the press and the government despite growing anti-war movements. Hood's method of telling the story is not to make comparisons to Trump or Brexit, they are an inevitable thought in the back of the audience's mind as they see how history is doomed to repeat itself. It's almost tragic to watch the events of the film play out thinking that Gun's actions could prevent Iraq or even change history but what Knightley's performance and the screenplay do display is how the intention of Gun's actions were incredibly brave no matter the success. The war happens but without a UN resolution and the corrupt tactics of Bush and Blair's governments begin to be exposed, the crime had occurred but know people knew there was a crime.
Hood may not capture that same level of nerve-wracking tension that his previous film Eye in the Sky had but still delivers moments of nauseating unease with Katharine Gun's uncertain future. Gun's husband a Turkish Kurd who is struggling with his immigration status becomes a target for authorities as revenge for Gun's actions displaying the rampant Islamaphobia infecting Britain and the authoritative nature the government approached dissent. Knightley's performance is the core of the film, Hood using her as the basis for the ethical arguments for Bright and Ralph Fiennes's Ben Emmerson to make in the film but it doesn't push her character to the side nor make her a powerless figure in her own story. Gun's bravery is an inspiration for the other characters to do their investigative work and show to the audience the importance of a diligent press and nonpartisan judicial system.
The film starts in media res with Gun facing her trial before the press and Crown prosecution but the hindsight of the real events doesn't diminish the excitement or tension Official Secrets has to offer. Hood has truth and loyalty examined through the investigations of Bright and Emerson, with their meticulous uncoverings of the lies behind the Iraq War being the most exciting elements of the film. The inquiries are a bit stop and start but that is to allow the consequences of Gun's actions to have a more ominous perception, the uncertainty that was done was for the right reasons. It is a commendation to Gun's bravery in the face of personal annihilation that she stands by her convictions when everyone else fears to step on the toes of the government.
Great performances, great direction and great writing, Official Secrets is a tremendous political thriller that condemns a period of history that is so relevant to our contemporary issues. Showcasing the bravery of the individual over the complacency of the collective, Keira Knightley commands the audience with a startlingly human performance with the mix of uncertainty and stubbornness to what she had done. She's terrified of the consequences of what will happen to her but accepts the necessity of the truth to be told despite the damage to her professional and personal life. Informative, captivating and necessary viewing for 2019, Hood delivers a courageous biography for the importance of truth in democracy.
Director: #GavinHood
Release Date: October 18th 2019
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Written review copyright ©CoreyBullochReviews
Images and Synopsis from the Internet Movie Database
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