It's an important story that is told well. The acting of the main character is tremendous and a pleasure to watch. Unfortunately, I didn't know that the subject of this 'based-on-fact' drama had been suckered into promoting the Leveson inquiry, so the last half an hour also promotes it. I wouldn't have watched if I'd known. It was a nasty surprise that made me feel as suckered as the subject.
Sadly the subject didn't know he was being exploited in this way. A truer, and more interesting rendering of his story would have touched on that exploitation.
The result was that a good and well meaning cast and crew ended up serving as propaganda for the Leveson inquiry, which is a powerful attempt to control the press, and therefore limit free speech, when unfettered free speech is possibly at it's most needed in history. Bravo for the acting. Shame for the propaganda.
One wonders whether this story would have been told with such quality if it wasn't for the Leveson inquiry needing the retrospective PR. My overall 2 rating reflects a 10 for the acting, and 0 for the rest. Propaganda should not ever be considered art. When drama becomes propaganda, it should be reviewed and rated with that in mind.
Sadly the subject didn't know he was being exploited in this way. A truer, and more interesting rendering of his story would have touched on that exploitation.
The result was that a good and well meaning cast and crew ended up serving as propaganda for the Leveson inquiry, which is a powerful attempt to control the press, and therefore limit free speech, when unfettered free speech is possibly at it's most needed in history. Bravo for the acting. Shame for the propaganda.
One wonders whether this story would have been told with such quality if it wasn't for the Leveson inquiry needing the retrospective PR. My overall 2 rating reflects a 10 for the acting, and 0 for the rest. Propaganda should not ever be considered art. When drama becomes propaganda, it should be reviewed and rated with that in mind.