It’s hard to recall anything special about this movie, except for its obvious and straightforward support of Edward Snowden and his actions. Oliver Stone has delivered a highly contentious film: a biographical account of Edward Snowden, who previously served in the military and as an intelligence analyst for both the CIA and NSA. Going into detail about the script isn't really necessary; most people are familiar with Snowden’s story and what he did. What differs is how individuals interpret it. Many Americans view him as someone who betrayed his country and put global security and counterterrorism efforts at risk. Others see him as a person exposing how the US exerts control over the world, utilizing information—and the way people willingly surrender their privacy through social media—to gain advantages in economics and international relations. The film functions as an endorsement of Snowden’s perspective, openly taking sides and defending his views. It depicts him as someone with bravery and integrity who served his country and fought terrorism but realized he was contributing to the problem rather than solving it, and that he was serving interests far more sinister than he initially understood. Watching the movie is akin to hearing Snowden speak himself; he has been living in exile in Moscow for several years (and one can’t help but wonder how much Putin exploited this situation or used what Snowden knew). It's certain to provoke anger among those who consider Snowden a traitor, and possibly even some people who would have preferred a more balanced presentation that explored both sides of the issue, which is what I personally hoped for. Joseph Gordon-Levitt does a commendable job in the lead role. While it’s unclear whether he accurately portrayed the real Edward Snowden, the actor created a character who is easy to root for: one of those brilliant computer and math minds who observe people and the world with a combination of curiosity and innocence. I found myself wanting to sympathize with him... but at times his naivete felt contrived and unbelievable, especially given what the character goes through in Japan. Shailene Woodley also performs well as Snowden’s girlfriend (now wife), portraying an outgoing and expressive young woman. The film includes performances from Melissa Leo, Tom Wilkinson, Zachary Quinto, Rhys Ifans, and Nicolas Cage. From a technical standpoint, it resembles a typical mainstream American movie. The sets are good, the cinematography has some effective moments, and there's decent CGI work. Ultimately, though, it’s a fairly forgettable film, memorable only because of its subject matter.

Source on TMDB