It’s hard to believe this is an Oliver Stone production. There was a time when you could tell a film was his simply from the editing style—the cuts, the feel of the movie, and its overall appearance were instantly recognizable. This doesn't resemble anything he's done before. The writing has the hallmarks of a Stone script; the storyline is exactly the kind of plot he would choose, and the way the topic is approached feels very much like his style. It’s undeniably an Oliver Stone story. However, the finished product… it’s still an Oliver Stone film. The casting choices are appropriate—Joseph Gordon-Levitt seems like someone he'd select for a role—but the number of celebrity appearances, while present, isn't as abundant as in his previous films; it’s more of a light dusting than a heavy shower. And what about the visual style? Where are the signature Stone cuts? It feels like any director working in Hollywood could have taken this script and turned it into the movie that it is. The director doesn't imprint Snowden with his personal touch as he did with his earlier films. And, regardless of your political views, people go to see his movies because he’s directing them. Snowden lacks a distinct directorial presence, leaving you feeling shortchanged. It could have been a good film under anyone’s direction, but the truth is, we wanted to see it made by Oliver Stone.

Source on TMDB