Winner

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.

Hard to review this film without somehow getting on someone's nerves. I liked the acting and the movie was OK in terms of pacing and production. However it was difficult for me to reconcile the real case, the bias that the filmmakers were pushing for and the entertainment part of the film. Imagine if Ed Snowden was a blonde woman with absolutely no people skills, spy skills or revealing anything truly interesting. You get to know her, then the movie is over. That's about it.

Now, there is nothing wrong with her being a woman, being blonde or caring about politicians lying through their teeth on TV about Russian interference in American voting, it's just that it was not something entertaining. The makers of this film struggled its entire length to make the characters relatable and interesting, and they did a good job with what they had, but it still wasn't really interesting. Emilia Jones did great work, too, but couldn't make a bland film something else than what it was.

If you thought the film was about some legal battle against the government or some shrewd individual outsmarting the security apparatus of the United States or about real drama and human suffering, you get none of that. Instead you get an average person, trying to do the right thing in a terribly naive way and paying for it. I got to feel more about that poor guy who liked her than about all of the people killed by the military, the main character, her family or anyone else in the film.

Bottom line: the film made me aware of the existence of this case, but it wasn't anything special in real life and the film couldn't elevate it to something else entirely, no matter how hard they tried.

Winner (2024) is an absolute must-see for anyone who values truth and integrity. The film brilliantly showcases the incredible courage of Reality Winner, a woman who risked everything to expose the dark truths the government desperately tries to hide. Emilia Jones delivers a breathtaking performance, capturing Reality's intense moral struggle with such visceral emotion that it pulls you deep into her world.

This film doesn't just tell a gripping story; it stands as a powerful testament to the sacrifices made by those who dare to defend what is right. Watching Reality's journey, I felt a surge of anger and admiration. The American government punishes heroes like her, labeling whistleblowers as criminals for exposing injustice. This film challenges us to reconsider our definitions of heroism and villainy, compelling us to celebrate those who bravely speak out.

Winner struck a profound chord within me. It served as a stark reminder of the costs of standing up for your principles, no matter the personal cost. Reality Winner's story doesn't just tug at your heartstrings; it forces you to confront what you would sacrifice to uphold the truth. This film lingers in your mind long after the credits roll, urging you to reflect on the true meaning of courage, integrity, and the fight against oppression. It resonates deeply with my core values, inspiring me to champion those who dare to challenge the status quo.

Winner is categorized as a comedy but I can't find such an appealing story funny, on the contrary, it should wake people up in this messed up society we live in. Winner is a biography/drama, the kind that makes you think about how evil the decision makers are in this world. Personally I don't think there should be any secrets whatsoever, bad or good, the people have the right to know what is going on and decide for themselves which people should be elected. Now we have the orange goblin, the biggest narcissistic president that has ever walked this planet, convinced he's some kind of God whilst the opposite would be more accurate. One that is screaming of election fraud without any proof, pardoning killers from prison, it's an absolute scandal and shame. This movie shows who tried to manipulate the elections, his friends, the Russians, the once biggest enemies of the USA, but that seems far away now we have the goblin, the marionette of Putin. Needless to remind his promise that he would end the war in one day... Well we're still waiting... Emilia Jones as Reality Winner did a great job in this entertaining movie. She's still a young actress but with a bright future, one that will make it in great movies. I thought it was a compelling story about a courageous woman that served her country, that tried to do good in this mad world, only to be jailed because telling the truth. A truth that apparently we are not allowed to hear, like usual I would say. We need more people like Reality Winner, people like her deserve a statue and certainly not jail time.

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.