The Fifth Estate

**
Release Date: October 11th 2013

A dramatic thriller based on real events that reveals the quest to expose the deceptions and corruptions of power that turned an Internet upstart into the 21st century's most fiercely debated organization.

Director: Bill Condon (The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1/2, Dreamgirls)

Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Daniel Bruhl, David Thewlis, Peter Capaldi

The trailers at teasers for this film have been edited in a way that makes The Fifth Estate look suspenseful and very serious. The topic that it entails is serious, but not to the standard that Hollywood likes to make you believe.

From leaking the British National Party's addresses and phone numbers to Bradley Manning's leak of U.S cables (documents), we follow Wikileaks from the very beginning, from small time news to major headlines.

How much of the truth will we know? The Fifth Estate is based on accounts from ex-Wikileak partner Daniel Domscheit-Berg (played by Daniel Bruhl) and Guardian journalist Nick Davies, who were eventually bought down to earth by Julian Assange (Cumberbatch) and his egotistical, maniacal ways (at least according to the film). At this present moment, this is the only verdict we will receive through the use of media, mainly because Assange himself is stuck in the Ecuadorian embassy in the UK due to the US being after him for releasing highly classified info and allegations of sexual assault in Sweden.

This film is very similar to The Social Network, creating suspense on what's said rather than action. The difference between them is TSN keeps you gripped, sounds, setting and character eminence, TFE lacks all this, a score that's forgettable, 'stereotypical' settings in shack looking hideaways and clubs, with a cast that fade in to the background.

Cumberbatch is the only character that keeps this film going. His Australian drawl, fitted with his selfish attitude make him look like a sociopath (whether the film is right or wrong, this is the impression that it gives). Cumberbatch is moving on to better things, from Star Trek to The Hobbit (voice of Smaug), and now this.  

Overview: Cumberbatch may display some acting, but he's annoying and hard to sympathise with, resulting in careless feelings at the outcome.