Comments on: Watch: First Trailer For ‘The Fifth Estate’ Starring Benedict Cumberbatch As Julian Assange

By: JJBern

JJBern — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:30:48 +0000

Amused at how some people said that it's a story that has not been over yet and told too early by simply watching the first trailer, which didn't give too much away. Seems those can make their decisions pretty firmly and quickly by glimpses though, comparing to what the filmmaker is trying to do with this film; how ironical is that? Facebook's story is continuing, as is Mr. Mandela's story; they have all been made into films by now.
I'll definitely watch this movie. It'd be interesting to see how they tackle the story as it's current and just the cast will get me in; what a well-regarded ensemble; they are not that sort of actors and actresses would do movies just for vanity. Also, I like the fact that the trailer is actually not selling the cast and the director; none of them were credited in it; that makes it so clear that the most important thing for them is to tell the story, which is supposed to be the right mindset for every story worth to be told.

By: K.J.

K.J. — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:30:48 +0000

Laura Linney hasn't turned in a decent performance in years. It's time for her to pack it up (did you see Hyde Park?).

By: jingmei

jingmei — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:30:48 +0000

Man this looks cheeringly awesome.

By: Najo

Najo — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:30:48 +0000

Wow, the accent is spot on!

By: Duddi

Duddi — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:30:48 +0000

I'll be looking forward to this one. Just eager to see how far they went (or how brave they were), since it's a kind of controversial story… Anyway, B. Cumberbatch looks good as Julian Assange… I'm definitely in. 😉

By: Rachel

Rachel — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:30:48 +0000

This is something that I will wait to see on HBO. I also agree with the earlier comments about the danger of telling a true story that is not over, and whose full implications can't yet be known; thus they'll hedge their bets by not taking a solid position. If anything, though, they seem to be leaning towards "Assange as hero," which is problematic in many ways.

By: Michael D

Michael D — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:30:48 +0000

I'll definitely see it. Looks like it will be more sympathetic to Assange than "We Steal Secrets," which, basically, was a hit piece.

By: Matty

Matty — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:30:48 +0000

As an Australian I was skeptical, but his Australian accent sounds pretty freaking great.

By: Alex

Alex — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:30:48 +0000

I think the problem with the trailer is that the whole story with Assange, Snowden, Obama, NSA, Arab Spring is still evolving and in flux. The trailer makes the film look quite conventional with a typical dramatic arc and with an unsophisticated 'is he a hero or a villain?????' theme. People can obviously have opinions either way, but I don't think this is an issue that you can pin down and shoot, at least not while we are in the thick of it. Done right, a film addressing this issue would be a lot more procedural and morally ambiguous. I'd be interested to see what someone like Kathryn Bigelow, David Fincher, Paul Greengrass or Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck would do with this subject matter. The trailer could be misleading though, but I don't think so because the dialogue is problematic not just the cutting.