Written and directed by Tina Satter, co-written by James Paul Dallas, a former American intelligence specialist was given the longest sentence for the unauthorized release of government information to the media about Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections via an email operation. Starring: Sydney Sweeney, Josh Hamilton, Marchánt Davis, Benny Elledge and John Way.
When you think of whistle-blower stories, what comes to mind is probably high octane, suspense fuelled adventures of fighting against the man, Tina Satter throws out that expectation and plays by her own rules. What she creates still has plenty of tension and suspense but it’s all about the long game, it’s patient and cunning. The atmosphere that Satter creates is one that’s intentionally frustrating, having both Reality (Sydney Sweeney) and the FBI agents (Josh Hamilton and Marchánt Davis) playing dumb and coy for as long as possible to see who’ll break first. It’s surprisingly gripping and deceptively clever, blanketing its story in an encompassing and enthralling cloud of distrust.
Satter’s visual style plays with simplicity, scaling things back but it’s highly intentional and effective. Using that docudrama format to blur the lines between reality and re-creation. Going for an understated style means it can really lean into the power struggle of the story, giving it an excellently strong focus. There’s also an offbeat edge to the way that it moves, it’s serious and yet playful which creates an unusual and charming tone.
The casting for Reality feels perfect, there’s only three key characters and each one fits the role superbly. Staring with the titular Reality played by Sydney Sweeney, whose star is constantly on the rise these days for good reason because the complexity she can bring is enviable. One of the greatest aspects of the film is how Sweeney portrays the layers to Reality, there’s a slow reveal to just how many cogs in the machine of her brain are at play. She manages to use naivety and tap into your protective instincts, as well as portraying the intelligence, pride and righteous sides to her character. It’s an impressive performance.
Alongside her you have Reality’s FBI agents on the prowl, who are both brought to life so enjoyably by Josh Hamilton and Marchánt Davis. Hamilton gives off that dad vibe, little bit cheesy and soft but also makes you aware that he’s using that to his advantage. Davis’s Agent Taylor feels like the one who’s playing the least amount of games, there’s a bigger transparency to him. He’s slightly on edge and pushing a little bit harder, which nicely amps up that feel of distrust. Constantly switching between the polite, the professional and the push for truth.
Reality satisfyingly plays its cards close to its chest and draws you into this slowly unravelling story. One that’s probably best to go into cold so resist the urge to do some wiki-reading. Sydney Sweeney leads the way brilliantly with a layered and complex performance which is beat for beat excellence. While Josh Hamilton and Marchánt Davis are the best support you could ask for. It’s a fascinating story with an understated yet purposeful and strong style. In her directorial debut Tina Satter is taking a risk in scaling back the style to create a terrific connection to real life and it truly pays off.
FilmCarnage.com 