User reviews

This movie only having a 6.6 average rating feels criminally low to me. This is how I wish more movies based on real events took place. Using the actual transcript, so there's no room for dramatization or fluff. The acting is fantastic, and at under 90 minutes I felt more tension with this movie than most Hollywood action blockbusters. I fear it will be overlooked, but it's a must watch that requires almost no time investment. If not exactly, it's pretty much shown in real time as the actual interrogation took place. I would love any recommendations in the replies of other films based on true events that use factual evidence of what was said and took place in its making.

"Reality" immerses viewers in a gripping tale, a reflection of the moment when the FBI descends upon Reality Winner, a former Air Force translator, with a search warrant in hand. While the general knowledge of Winner's deeds is widely known, I shall refrain from divulging the film's revelatory essence to preserve the enigma. "Reality" abstains from taking a definitive stance on Winner's actions, leaving room for subjective interpretation (although many may find themselves sympathetic to her motives, if not her methods). The fate of the actual Reality Winner remains shrouded until the film's unveiling. This introspective drama hinges entirely on the power of dialogue and the nuances of human reactions, demanding exceptional performances. Sydney Sweeney, in what could be deemed a career-defining portrayal, masterfully embodies Reality. Embracing a role devoid of glamour, Sweeney effortlessly exudes a profound vulnerability, an often-underappreciated skill in actors. As Reality's understanding of her situation deepens, her transformation becomes increasingly believable. "Reality" refrains from passing judgment, instead meticulously presenting the events and their unfolding. The stellar performances of the two central leads elevate the narrative, infusing it with exceptional authenticity. The weight of tension grips you from the outset, immersing you in a palpable atmosphere. Patience is a virtue required, for those seeking swift gratification may find themselves unfulfilled. Sydney and Josh deserve commendation for their captivating portrayals, leaving an indelible impression. Ultimately, the veil lifts, offering an insight into the FBI's interrogation techniques. A peculiar yet effective approach unfolds, as they seek not a straightforward confession but rather a manipulative dance of intimidation. The film unveils the inner workings of such interrogations, leaving you with a disconcerting awareness. Among the finest performances of the year, "Reality" presents a riveting and gripping experience. Personally, I found myself captivated, fascinated by its enigmatic allure. If you yearn for adrenaline-pumping action and violence, this may not satisfy your desires. However, I truly recommend it because it deserves a deep endorsement.

Reality: The story of Reality Leigh Winner, an NSA contacter who leaked information proving that Russian Intelligence had interfered in the 2016 US Presidential Election. Frustrated by seeing the reality being denied on Fox TV her tipping point was when Trump sacked FBI Director Comey. Ironically this led to her arrest by the FBI and prosecution. In spite of findings by a Senate Committee that her leak was in the public interest, Reality was sentenced to six years in prison. The film is based on the FBI interrogation transcript which was recorded on the day of her arrest, interspersed with posts from her Instagram account and TV news footage. Reality is played by Sydney Sweeney. The transcript comes to life as Reality is confronted by FBI agents, the first two playing good cops, who tell they realise that she just made a mistake, show concern for her animals, chat about cross training. A Master Class in how to get a confession when you haven't advised a suspect of their rights, just having a chat. There are some comic scenes, a cat being under the bed where Reality keeps a gun, another cat observing developments whilst seated in a child's pedal car across the street. But the tension builds as the agents get Reality to talk, I knew the outcome but the narrative still unfolds like a thriller. Well worth watching. Directed by Tina Satter, from a screenplay by Satter and James Paul Dallas. It is based on the play which Satter previously staged as Is This a Room. 8/10.

Sydney Sweeney delivers a powerful, mature performance in "Reality," a film based on the true story of NSA whistleblower Reality Winner. Sweeney's portrayal is undeniably captivating, and the film's reliance on dialogue creates a unique and initially engaging atmosphere.

However, while Sydney Sweeney's acting elevates the material, the film itself struggles to maintain its initial momentum. The heavy focus on a single, extended conversation creates a sense of stagnancy. The story, while important, doesn't translate into the consistently thrilling experience one might hope for.

Overall, "Reality" is worth watching for Sydney Sweeney's impressive work alone. Those interested in the subject matter may find it fascinating, but for viewers primarily seeking edge-of-your-seat tension, this film might leave something to be desired.

I really enjoy when an actor who is labeled a hot chick "heartthrob" (Sydney Sweeney), comes out and nails a lead role in a feature like this. She knocks the ball out of the park on this one. I would recommend this to fans of hers or high level acting in general.

This film is essentially a one setting play (with some flashbacks). It's filmed in a way where you feel like you're there just watching the events. It's definitely not for everyone, and the overall plot is very basic and not something I'm particularly interested in (Russian BS/politics), but I didn't watch for that.

This film is good at driving tension, slowly and unfolding, almost backwards the events that did, in fact occur. If you enjoy good acting, watch it!

This can only boost the career of Sydney Sweeney in what feels like a showcase of her acting, if ever you need a showreel to propel, this would be it. Far from just another talentless blonde, Sydney really excels in a very natural performance worthy of cementing herself as the future and one to watch.

Based on the true story of Reality Leigh Winner, an NSA contractor who released information proving of Russian interference in the 2016 US Presidential Election. This film might be a slow burner for many and definitely not everyone's cup of tea. It's mainly a low budget dialogue based script using actual FBI interrogation transcript loosely from recordings I'd imagine. The issue is many parts have to be bleeped out due to opening up a much bigger can of worms. Seems somewhat ironic as the released information is what brought us to the dance in the first place. There is a lot of repetition within the script, simple stuff that just fills gaps to extend what could be a short film. Agent Garrick (Josh Hamilton) and Agent Taylor (Marchant Davis) really do appear to be overly inquisitive at times, and asking simple questions multiple times that appear just time fillers. It feels like something that could be performed on stage better than in film mainly due to the fact it isn't overly entertaining to watch. What is intriguing and just enough to keep the audience engaged is the acting of Sydney Sweeney. The film also keep you involved as you want to know where it is all leading. Me not knowing much of the real story was of great benefit here. However if you knew of it you'd probably find it all too tiresome to continue.

The cinematography is basic and the direction isn't overly impressive as the entire piece revolves around acting, which is refreshing as I hear so many saying Sweeney is only famous for two things and they barely feature in this. Tina Satter makes a bold leap with her first film as a director, writer and producer so you can't fault the effort here. Overall it's not bad a one time watch film and definitely a step in the right direction for Sydney Sweeney.

Reality loses a little of it's sparkle on film but is still a gripping well made drama. The main trio of the cast Sydney Sweeney, Josh Hamilton & Marchant Davis are all excellent and play their parts well.

Sydney Sweeney shows she is one to watch and with the right material can go on to do big things. Her upcoming appearance for Marvel will surely elevate her to superstardom, here's hoping she can continue to throw in a few more movies of this size as well.

Josh Hamilton does great and continues to appear in interesting movies without getting the recognition he deserves. He is very underrated.

Reality is a good movie of a great stage play and well worth the time. It is thought-provoking and worth the price of admission alone to know that there is someone on this earth called Reality Winner.

This movie is an almost verbatim re-enactment of an FBI transcript.

These reviews seem to fall into two camps. People who accept moral ambiguity and those who want a clear cinematic delineation between good and evil.. Reality (her real name) is neither a crusading whistleblower nor a traitor, but a woman who'd serve honorably in the U. S. Air Force and becomes increasingly tormented by conscience,. The FBI agents are neither shining knights or cruel thugs but highly trained actors playing FBI agents (well -trained actors themselves) trying to tease out the truth.

In any case, all the characters are real human beings, not movie heros or villains.

The tension IS a slow build, but relentless.

People who want a slam bang action film with clearly obvious good guys versus bad guys, whether Reality OR FBI agents, and virtue triumphing over evil, are going to be sorely disappointed (as shown by the reviews) .

People who want a binary film experience should avoid this brilliant film at all costs.

Those fascinated by the fuzziness of profound moral dilemmas should rush out to see this film as soon as possible.

Having access to secret things that should be known, presenting opportunities, when you're alone, to print out, stuff down your clothes, specifically, your pantyhose, then send it off to those, who get your cover blown; it all leads to a tense visit from the boys, who at school must have resented those with toys, as all they love is the pursuit, of those they want to prosecute, probing, intimidate, is how they get their joys; so the service you've performed to wake, enlighten, ends up with a noose that's subtly gets tightened, then your cast into a cell, it's quite a long time (by some distance) that you dwell, but those with a sense of right, will surely fight on.

Sydney Sweeny is outstanding, absolutely brilliant, as the persecuted Reality Winner who did the right thing.

A very entertaining and well done movie. Easily a nine.

Syd Sweeney does an incredible job as Reality. She can really act. Whether it's White Lotus or Euphoria or Reality she brings believability to her roles. It is very refreshing to see actresses get good roles and opportunities the play complex characters.

The movie is very well done; it uses the actual tapes of her interview by the FBI. There are only 3 main characters in the movie and it is the interaction between them that gives the movie its good pace. I was surprised it was about an hour long because you are completely caught up in the story you don't realize how much time has passed.

The direction was also very good. Pay attention to positions everyone has when she is being interviewed.

I didn't know anything about this case before I saw the film, so when I saw "Reality Winner" and FBI - well, I was expecting a sort of "Slumdog Millionaire" type scenario. Nope, nothing like. That is the real name of a woman (Sydney Sweeney) who worked for the American government translating Iranian documents. She arrives home one day to find "Garrick" (Josh Hamilton) and "Taylor" (Marchánt Davis) parked on her lawn with a warrant to search her, her home, her car... She's bemused and a bit nonplussed, especially as her visitors seem way more concerned about the wellbeing of her cat and her dog! Anyway, into the house they eventually go and the interrogation begins. For a while, there is quite an effective intensity to that process and using, as it does, the original transcript of the interview as it happened, it delivers an authentic looking presentation of just how effective these agents can be. It's history, so there's no jeopardy - and I think Sweeney turns in quite a strong performance as the plot thickens but it all takes far too long to get going and the production is all just a bit too staccato. The thread does go some way to revealing the intimidatory powers of Uncle Sam when he feels aggrieved and that makes for uncomfortable watching at times. It isn't an especially memorable drama, and it doesn't need a cinema - but it will be fine to watch on the television whilst posing a few questions about what is or is not in the "public interest".

Based on the real life incident involving Reality Winner, this show was just a reenactment of the interrogation of Winner and the search of her house.

Sweeney was great considering the blandness of the story and to be fair, everyone in it was pretty good. Honestly though, the story is pretty boring. The show would have been much better as a two part series showing her stealing the classified information and what she did with it to give a better background on what the incident was.

For some reason, they kept censoring any mention of Russian election interference and the naming of the media outlet that broke the story, the Intercept, when this is publicly available information. Maybe it wasn't at the time they were filming but it just seemed forced.

Aside from the acting, I was kinda unimpressed with the show. All the left wing points were hit though, Russian meddling, Fox News bad, America hating leaker good, etc.

In the end, it was not terrible, not great, just blah.

True story of Reality Winner (Sydney Sweeney) a Farsi translator who comes home one day to find the FBI waiting to interview her and search her house and car. Slowly the interrogation moves towards the possibility that with her security clearance she accessed and leaked information about Russian interference in the 2016 elections.

An intriguing record come quasi documentary in that the whole film is based word for word on tapes of the FBI talking to and then formally interviewing Winner. Whilst it is difficult to separate one's views on her ultimate treatment and how the US government reacted, the film is actually a well crafted look at what it's like to be on the receiving end of the cold, clinical FBI procedure - and it's certainly pretty intimidating. Sydney's performance, the use of sound to reflect the growing anxiety and the careful recreation of the meticulous process in play, makes this a fascinating, tense and possibly worrying experience.

Sydney Sweeney stars in this film about an American intelligence specialist who was found guilty of releasing government insider info to Russia.

This is an interesting film but not one that was really entertaining or all that interesting. I mean you can say finding out exactly what the information is can be suspenseful but for the most part this is a very odd film that is basically word for word the actual audio from the arrest itself.

I think that's the strongest part is how authentic this film is to the source material. You've got to think this movie put itself in a box with doing it this way but it's true to the events that transpired! Sweeney does great in a role we haven't seen from her before so it was nice to see her range out a bit! Other than that there isn't much to see here.

I wouldn't recommend this one but if you are curious to see this you can find it on MAX.

A good example of how the american police and federal officers have become a bunch of fascists.

Breaching basic human rights and violating all norms of investigation, an insurrection in search of a crime.

Supposed FBI agents violate every know norm for crime scene policy, blatantly ignoring the law at every turn.

One can only imagine how the cases of Assange and Snowdon were tainted by these bastards. They will stop at nothing to further their crimes against humanity.

How many people in the US have been railroad by bogus crimes into prisons in the US, which has the highest rate of incarceration in the world.

Democracy my arse. More like rule by violent dictators.

If you think this is going to be like Snowden it is far from it. It is actually the quite opposite. It is excruciatingly painful to watch. It is filmed only in one environment with very few flashbacks and it takes forever to get to the point. It seems like they have nothing to say so they kept talking about the pointless dog and cat that have nothing to do with the movie. I think people only like this because of the actress. If she wasn't in it no one would enjoy it. Being filmed in 16 days should say something...It is TRASH. I wish I could get back the time I wasted on this movie expecting it to get better. I honestly don't know how this movie has good reviews.

Even with 2 hours sleep this movie is thoroughly enjoyable. Sydney Sweeney and Josh Hamilton are phenomenal, this movie deserves recognition! I love how gentle everyone involved in the FBI is, great this is based off a true story, and the directing is very good. Everything feels so authentic about the potential crime even unnerving, fairly sad research can lead to a major problem that will be investigated. Sydney is exceptional in anything I've seen her in especially Euphoria I don't think she's won yet before but she truly deserves it! I love the occasional HBO original the drama and vibes when there's glitches hit the spot, perfect as directorial debut too.

There were so many compelling positive reviews for this film that I was looking forward to something different. My largest grievance comes from the fact that at no time did this supposedly intelligent person ask for a lawyer. Feels like something I would have done the moment I heard the word "warrant". That aside, did the crew show up for filming, only to realize the script got left at home, just to have the director say "it'll be fine, just wing it..."?

Glaring editorial inconsistencies, FBI agents who look more like golf-dads, and just an overall mind-numbing slow pace make this a movie I probably wouldn't recommend.

I didn't hate the acting, considering what they had to work with I felt like those actors and actress did a great job trying to breathe life into this lump.

This shouldn't be a movie. The actors have a really hard time trying to make a verbatim transcript into a screen worthy depiction. It feels like they're reading directly off the page without any situational context and have no understanding of how natural dialogue works. The forced stuttering is the most noticeable example of this, the actors have no ability to make this part of the transcript seem natural. Also the glitching of the characters when they are reciting a redacted part of the transcript comes across as overly dramatic and out of place. The story itself is not nearly interesting enough to make a movie out of the direct transcript. If you're interested in the story of Reality Winner, just Google her for 5 minutes instead of wasting your time on this dramatized table read.

Sydney Sweeney shines in this tense 'interview room' drama as Reality Winner, an NSA translator who suddenly finds herself under investigation by the FBI.

The approach to this film is very interesting, as the dialogue is formed entirely from the genuine FBI transcript of their interrogation of Reality. You'd think this might put the film on guardrails and create a relatively uninspired finished product, but this isn't the case at all. Director Tina Satter uses this very intelligently, with some creative flourishes that make for a unique and engaging experience.

Her great direction extends to the whole feel of the piece, which is tense but not in a frantic or bombastic way. It is a very understated but no less effective tension.

As mentioned, the performance from Sweeney is great. She locks you into her thought process and her emotion and you really feel connected to her as events unravel and the net tightens.

I do think the film loses momentum slightly which is a shame for such a short film, and at times, things do feel a little too matter of fact.

Nevertheless, this is a very engaging and informative film, and at barely 90 minutes long it's a no brainer.

This docudrama is a thrillingly dramatic 80-minute affair owing to its slow-burn, revelatory plot and solid performances from Sydney Sweeney and Josh Hamilton. Yes, it really rides a lot on Sydney's performance and the feeling of how the interrogration plays out in real time, intercut with details on the specifics of [redacted, haha]. Some of the editing choices (like the recurring distortions in the final 30 minutes) left me baffled and took me out of the film for a few seconds, but Sydney's expressions (subtle, yet effective) had me hooked all through. The case in question remains excellent material for a 2-episode documentary, where they could also tap a bit more into Reality's emotional state of mind at the time. I'm surprised Netflix hasn't gone that route already, but I also understand why they're yet to.