THE FIFTH ESTATE CONTRIBUTES TO THE FOURTH ESTATE
Directed by Bill Condon, The Fifth Estate is a biopic of Julian Assange (played by Benedict Cummerbatch), who is interviewed making contradictory statements at the end of the film in the Ecuadorian embassy in London. Assange admits to a strange upbringing, which supposedly prompted him to want to expose secrets of businesses and governments. He begins with exposure of bank malfeasance, tries to bring to light death squads in Kenya, but leapfrogs into big time with the leaks of Bradley Manning, all the while working with the Guardian newspaper. His continual fast pace, mumbling, and weird dance floor antics give the impression that he acts without reflecting, and his onetime partner Daniel Berg (Daniel Brühl) unsuccessfully tries to stop him from revealing secrets that might jeopardize lives. The purpose of introducing U.S. State Department officer Sarah Shaw (Laura Linney) into the film is unclear, except to pretend that she has a favorite spy and downplays the diplomatic damage. Nevertheless, the Political Film Society has nominated The Fifth Estate as best film exposé of 2013. MH