Winner

Or is wrong right? Well no pun intended - also I am not sure if you are aware but there is another movie with the same ... well "story". The other one has Sydney Sweeney in the main role ... and it also "only" concentrates on the one day and on Winners perspective .. and she is anything but winning - compiled through the transcript it gives us the faithful (well not so much faith but that aside) day.

This really shines a light on so much more of the person ... and her family and friends. Doing what you may think is right ... well the law may see it differently ... to think that others (let's say more powerful people) got away with a lot worse than what she did ... well puts it all into perspective.

The "little" (wo)man always has a way more difficult stance. This is another prove of that - because again it is based on a true story ... we get some more recent updates ... but it still makes you wonder if other people should have been treated differently ... not to mention maybe not be in a "job" right now ... crazy world we live in.

Winner, directed by Susanna Fogel, stars Emilia Jones as the main character Reality Winner, and runs for 103 minutes. At first glance, there's nothing inherently wrong with the film. The acting is solid, especially from Emilia Jones, who delivers a nuanced and compelling performance. The movie's pacing is well-crafted, and it flows smoothly throughout its runtime. The emotions it aims to convey - ranging from personal struggles to moments of warmth - are well-developed, and the connection with the main character is undeniable. You genuinely feel Reality's inner conflicts, her personality, and the intentions driving her actions.

However, despite all these positives, I can't recommend Winner for one simple reason - though it may seem petty to some. In the very first minutes of the movie, we're introduced to the fact that Reality is being arrested, accused of violating the Espionage Act, and is suspected of being a terrorist. It sets up what appears to be a tense and engaging storyline about her legal battle and the fallout of those accusations. Unfortunately, the film never fully capitalizes on that promise. Instead, much of the movie focuses on her personal life - her relationships with her family and boyfriend, her love for animals, and her concern for global suffering.

While these aspects of her character are important, the core issue - the accusations against her - feels like background noise for most of the film. There's very little focus on the actual legal developments or consequences of her actions, which is disappointing given how strongly the film starts by presenting those stakes. The result is a movie that's solid on its own but sets the wrong expectations from the outset. If the focus had been more balanced or if the initial setup hadn't leaned so heavily on the legal drama, it might have been a more cohesive experience.

In conclusion, Winner is a decent film with strong performances and solid pacing, but it ultimately falls short by not delivering on the narrative expectations it sets in its opening moments. I give it a 6 out of 10.

Even though I follow the news, I don't remember this case. I also did not watch the previous movie about her (HBO?)

At first I was concerned about the quality (based on the negative reviews here), but after reading more online about her and her case, we decided to give it a watch. Both the husband and I thought it was well written, well acted, and well paced.

Regardless of which side of the political divide you are on, we need more people who are willing to stand up for the truth AND transparency in government. In that respect I applaud her efforts.

Also, I have to say that I loved the carnudgeonly charming 'character' that her father was.

It's very humourous, and tells a very human story of an activist and person with a strong moral compass. If there were more people like her. We'd have fewer wars and stop hemmoraging money we need to fix this country and help the impoverished. Instead of funding needless conflicts and army bases all over the world. Instead of punishing whistleblowers we condemn and imprison them for speaking out against against secretive government policies that overall make us all less safe and less free. People live in their own echo chambers and have refused to read books or listen to other points of view from those who live in other countries, especially the ones we devastate with our bombs, just because we want their oil or they refuse to obey us.

I think this Reality was brilliant. Based on the true story along with extensive experience in the government, I applaud Reality in her quest for truth and not bowing down to "the man". Reality's intentions were true to her American values and she stood up for that; I respect that. I cannot imagine all of the skeletons in the closet in this world that the rich and powerful control.

I thought the story was acted professionally and felt the story needed to be told. I wonder how many other items are kept secret; of course, in today's world with social media it's hard to tell what is truth and what is propaganda.