Peter Debruge Chief Film Critic The U.S. government decided to make an example of Reality Winner, giving the former NSA translator a five-year prison sentence.
So it’s only fair that director Susanna Fogel should be able to make an example of her, too — only this time, to very different ends. “Winner” is well acted, well told and … well, a tough sell to people tired of politics.
It’s not a typical whistleblower movie, like “The Insider” or “Official Secrets” (both excellent), but more of a prickly character portrait, imbued with humor and a headstrong sense of defiance (courtesy of co-writer Kerry Howley, channeling Winner’s voice).
Let’s get this out of the way up front: Reality Winner has an unusual name, one that has proven ironic (as well as fodder for countless talk-show comics) since her act of defiance was made public.
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