The Fifth Estate

Synopsis

The Fifth Estate is a biographical thriller based on the story of Julian Assange and WikiLeaks. The film follows the rise of Assange and his colleague Daniel Domscheit-Berg as they set out to expose government secrets and challenge the status quo. As they gain notoriety and support, they find themselves at odds with traditional media and the authorities. The movie delves into the complexities of information sharing, ethics, and the blurred lines between transparency and security. Benedict Cumberbatch delivers a riveting performance as Assange, capturing his enigmatic persona and the moral dilemmas he faces. The Fifth Estate is a thought-provoking exploration of the power of the internet in the digital age and its implications for journalism and democracy.

Cast

• 

  Benedict Cumberbatch

  Julian Assange

• 

  Daniel Brühl

  Daniel Domscheit-Berg

• 

  Anthony Mackie

  Sam Coulson

• 

  David Thewlis

  Nick Davies

• 

  Alicia Vikander

  Anke Domscheit-Berg

• 

  Dan Stevens

  Ian Katz

Reviews

The Fifth Estate received mixed reviews from critics. While some praised Benedict Cumberbatch's performance as Julian Assange, others found the film lacking in depth and failing to capture the complexity of the WikiLeaks story. Rotten Tomatoes gave it a score of 36%, with the consensus stating that the movie 'struggles to enliven its real-life story with enough dramatic energy.' IMDb rated it 6.2/10, with viewers appreciating the performances but criticizing the pacing. Metacritic gave it a score of 49/100, indicating mixed or average reviews. Overall, The Fifth Estate is a polarizing film that sparks discussions on the impact of whistleblowers and the media landscape in the digital age.