We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks

Name: We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks
Genre: Comedy, Documentary
Released: May 24, 2013
Duration: 130 min
Rating: 76
Cast: Adrian Lamo, Julian Assange

2013

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Generally favorable reviews based on 20 Critics

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Generally favorable reviews based on 21 Ratings

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6.5

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6.5	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 21 Ratings

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WE STEAL SECRETS: THE STORY OF WIKILEAKS

Movie Details & Credits

Not Rated

Focus World | Release Date: May 24, 2013

Starring: Adrian Lamo, Julian Assange

Summary: Award-winning documentary director Alex Gibney turns his camera on WikiLeaks, its founder, Julian Assange, and the global debate over access to information.

Director: Alex Gibney

Genre(s): Comedy, Documentary

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 130 min

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Awards & Rankings

84	#84 Best Movie of 2013

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Critic Reviews

100

New York Daily News - Elizabeth Weitzman

May 23, 2013

The vastly divergent paths of Assange and Manning make up the most fascinating aspects of this relentlessly compelling film. Read full review

The Playlist - Gabe Toro

May 22, 2013

Despite a lack of access to Manning and Assange, We Steal Secrets is a vital document of a pivotal moment in world history that we’re still experiencing as we speak. Read full review

Philadelphia Inquirer - Steven Rea

Jun 7, 2013

It's complicated. And it's fascinating. Read full review

New York Magazine (Vulture) - David Edelstein

May 20, 2013

By the time this twisty, probing, altogether enthralling movie hits its final notes, the crimes against the Constitution and humanity have been upstaged by personal demons. Which is our woe as well. Read full review

St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Joe Williams

Jun 6, 2013

Gibney is as dramatic a storyteller as the Hollywood directors with whom he competes for our attention, and he employs a big bag of tricks. Read full review

The A.V. Club - A.A. Dowd

May 22, 2013

Truthfully, Assange’s absence from We Steal Secrets—regardless of the reasons for it—is a major liability, and not just because it prevents Gibney from truly engaging with his headline-grabbing subject. Without a strong personality at its center, the film often feels unbalanced, lurching awkwardly between basic infotainment concerns and a sharper, more specific agenda. Read full review

Variety - Peter Debruge

Mar 21, 2013

The conflict at the core of the WikiLeaks saga is dramatically lacking. Read full review

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User Reviews

dmilner

Jun 12, 2013

A good, but flawed documentary. Had it examined the ego of Julian Assange in more depth, which clearly drives the man to follow through with his own vision, no matter what trail of human destruction he leaves in his path. Since a lot of the events covered received widespread media coverage,A good, but flawed documentary. Had it examined the ego of Julian Assange in more depth, which clearly drives the man to follow through with his own vision, no matter what trail of human destruction he leaves in his path. Since a lot of the events covered received widespread media coverage, viewers may be desensitized by the shocking details documented. Overall, a good watch, but ultimately a case of what could have been.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

hoops2448

Sep 10, 2013

A piece of documentary film making can pick its topic and We Steal Secrets has picked WikiLeaks as its topic or so I thought when I started watching. What it really is, is a documentary about the perfect storm of Julian Assange despite the inherent promise in the title to tell the story ofA piece of documentary film making can pick its topic and We Steal Secrets has picked WikiLeaks as its topic or so I thought when I started watching. What it really is, is a documentary about the perfect storm of Julian Assange despite the inherent promise in the title to tell the story of WikiLeaks. When Julian Assange and the men and women behind WikiLeaks brought down the Icelandic banks, people took notice and as Assange's leaks got more and more severe the nature of the information game changed, some say forever, others agree that this radical movement will fade. While Assange is a worthy topic of debate and discussion all We Steal Secrets seems to do is obfuscate the filed of view so much that its hard to interpret quite what happened during Assange's short and harmful time in the public eye. The story tries to keep you hooked but the story is shown from so many sides with differing accounts that you lose the plot in the swarm of information and half truths. The film tries not to depict him as a saint by showing the lives he has inadvertently ruined but it does try to justify his actions by painting him as a maverick, even going so far as to show Assange celebrating by dancing to Lady Gaga in a nightclub. It's a surreal image that will stick with you as the film nonchalantly glosses over certain aspects to try and maintain the delusional idea that WikiLeaks is a website of journalistic integrity despite Assange's bizarre actions towards the end of the film. Ultimately its WikiLeaks without any of the specifics as it concentrates on an interesting yet thoroughly corruptable person who in the end was exactly the person everyone thought he would turn out to be.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

kmdcanada

Dec 31, 2013

Wow a poor glimpse one of the bravest actions by any 2 people in the history of the world. Yes they are flawed people, but interviewing all the bitter former employees and presenting zero positive views is pathetic.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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