Winner

Hard to review this film without somehow getting on someone's nerves. I liked the acting and the movie was OK in terms of pacing and production. However it was difficult for me to reconcile the real case, the bias that the filmmakers were pushing for and the entertainment part of the film. Imagine if Ed Snowden was a blonde woman with absolutely no people skills, spy skills or revealing anything truly interesting. You get to know her, then the movie is over. That's about it.

Now, there is nothing wrong with her being a woman, being blonde or caring about politicians lying through their teeth on TV about Russian interference in American voting, it's just that it was not something entertaining. The makers of this film struggled its entire length to make the characters relatable and interesting, and they did a good job with what they had, but it still wasn't really interesting. Emilia Jones did great work, too, but couldn't make a bland film something else than what it was.

If you thought the film was about some legal battle against the government or some shrewd individual outsmarting the security apparatus of the United States or about real drama and human suffering, you get none of that. Instead you get an average person, trying to do the right thing in a terribly naive way and paying for it. I got to feel more about that poor guy who liked her than about all of the people killed by the military, the main character, her family or anyone else in the film.

Bottom line: the film made me aware of the existence of this case, but it wasn't anything special in real life and the film couldn't elevate it to something else entirely, no matter how hard they tried.

Winner (2024) is an absolute must-see for anyone who values truth and integrity. The film brilliantly showcases the incredible courage of Reality Winner, a woman who risked everything to expose the dark truths the government desperately tries to hide. Emilia Jones delivers a breathtaking performance, capturing Reality's intense moral struggle with such visceral emotion that it pulls you deep into her world.

This film doesn't just tell a gripping story; it stands as a powerful testament to the sacrifices made by those who dare to defend what is right. Watching Reality's journey, I felt a surge of anger and admiration. The American government punishes heroes like her, labeling whistleblowers as criminals for exposing injustice. This film challenges us to reconsider our definitions of heroism and villainy, compelling us to celebrate those who bravely speak out.

Winner struck a profound chord within me. It served as a stark reminder of the costs of standing up for your principles, no matter the personal cost. Reality Winner's story doesn't just tug at your heartstrings; it forces you to confront what you would sacrifice to uphold the truth. This film lingers in your mind long after the credits roll, urging you to reflect on the true meaning of courage, integrity, and the fight against oppression. It resonates deeply with my core values, inspiring me to champion those who dare to challenge the status quo.

If you have seen the HBO production 'reality' then you may think, why bother to watch this version of the story of Reality Winner? Well this one has a much lighter, even comedic touch to it, they are both very different experiences. Whilst the HBO version may be more realistic in its presentation, 'Winner' is ultimately the more affecting of the two in my opinion. It could stand on its own as a film about a rebellious teen, and would be enjoyably involving, moving and thought provoking. However accurate it comes to portraying the facts and experiences of the situation, one thing is certain, it gets across the message regarding the state of the political, judicial and intelligence sectors of the USA. Which all, depending on your biases, are truly lacking. Maybe not so much as in even the majority of other countries, but certainly far from that aspirational 'Shining City on a Hill' mantra.

It's deeply ironic that a young ex forces woman was jailed for years for printing out a few pages, when the person who was the beneficiary of the Russian interference she wished to highlight, had boxes full of top secret documents he had stolen as a private citizen in his toilet, yet will likely never even see the inside of a prison cell?

This is a highly entertaining film, watch it.

Winner is categorized as a comedy but I can't find such an appealing story funny, on the contrary, it should wake people up in this messed up society we live in. Winner is a biography/drama, the kind that makes you think about how evil the decision makers are in this world. Personally I don't think there should be any secrets whatsoever, bad or good, the people have the right to know what is going on and decide for themselves which people should be elected. Now we have the orange goblin, the biggest narcissistic president that has ever walked this planet, convinced he's some kind of God whilst the opposite would be more accurate. One that is screaming of election fraud without any proof, pardoning killers from prison, it's an absolute scandal and shame. This movie shows who tried to manipulate the elections, his friends, the Russians, the once biggest enemies of the USA, but that seems far away now we have the goblin, the marionette of Putin. Needless to remind his promise that he would end the war in one day... Well we're still waiting... Emilia Jones as Reality Winner did a great job in this entertaining movie. She's still a young actress but with a bright future, one that will make it in great movies. I thought it was a compelling story about a courageous woman that served her country, that tried to do good in this mad world, only to be jailed because telling the truth. A truth that apparently we are not allowed to hear, like usual I would say. We need more people like Reality Winner, people like her deserve a statue and certainly not jail time.

Even though I follow the news, I don't remember this case. I also did not watch the previous movie about her (HBO?)

At first I was concerned about the quality (based on the negative reviews here), but after reading more online about her and her case, we decided to give it a watch. Both the husband and I thought it was well written, well acted, and well paced.

Regardless of which side of the political divide you are on, we need more people who are willing to stand up for the truth AND transparency in government. In that respect I applaud her efforts.

Also, I have to say that I loved the carnudgeonly charming 'character' that her father was.