Taking down the government
DVD: The Fifth Estate Reviewed by: Gareth Drawbridge Review made possible by: NuMetro
Freedom of the press is questioned in the provocative and fast paced thriller The Fifth Estate.
Based on a true story, the film focuses on the controversial news-leaking website WikiLeaks and the relationship between founding member Julian Assange (Benedict Cumberbatch) and online journalist Daniel Domscheit (Daniel Brühl).
Together the two made it their mission to expose fraud, corruption and lies to the world.
However, after years of working towards the same goal of releasing information which was being withheld from the public, the relationship between the two became strained and was eventually severed.
Directed by Bill Condon, The Fifth Estate is a thought provoking film which reminds audiences not to believe everything they are told.
While watching the film, one can’t help but be reminded of the recent Nkandla scandal and the equally controversial Secrecy Bill.
Although The Fifth Estate did not do well at the box office, high praise has to be given to Cumberbatch for his portrayal of the determined Assange.
