Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Trending
    • Interview with the Vice-Chancellor
    • Country Highlight: The Netherlands
    • If You’re Moving Back Home After Uni …
    • Jane Austen in Lockdown: How her six novels are more relevant than ever
    • All About … Period Poverty
    • My Veggie Journey: How not being strictly Vegetarian is OK
    • Watch with Pride: Your Top TV Picks this Pride Month
    • Globe Trotting on Screen: Your Guide to Summer 2021
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Flickr
    Seren
    • News & Politics
      1. Local News
      2. UK News
      3. Uni News
      4. World News
      5. Politics
      6. Comment
      7. Business
      Featured

      SABB Election: The Full Result Breakdown

      By Emily ReadMarch 20, 20210
      Recent

      Interview with the Vice-Chancellor

      May 23, 2022

      Retro? Chip shortage may bring vintage tech to your car.

      May 6, 2021

      Manizha – the artist causing a stir as the Russian representative for Eurovision 2021:

      May 6, 2021
    • Arts & Culture
      1. Books
      2. Games
      3. Film
      4. Music
      5. TV
      6. Creative Corner
      Featured

      Bangor alumni podcast earns Hollywood cameo & BBC features

      By Amelia SmithMarch 7, 20210
      Recent

      Jane Austen in Lockdown: How her six novels are more relevant than ever

      July 7, 2021

      Watch with Pride: Your Top TV Picks this Pride Month

      May 17, 2021

      Globe Trotting on Screen: Your Guide to Summer 2021

      May 16, 2021
    • Lifestyle
      1. Fashion
      2. Food and Drink
      3. Social
      4. Health and Beauty
      5. Travel
      Featured

      Country Highlight: The Netherlands

      By Emily ShoultsMay 6, 20220
      Recent

      Country Highlight: The Netherlands

      May 6, 2022

      If You’re Moving Back Home After Uni …

      August 3, 2021

      All About … Period Poverty

      May 17, 2021
    • Discovery
      1. Science
      2. Environment
      3. History
      4. International
      Featured

      Brewing up a Storm: The History of Guinness

      By Emily ReadMarch 20, 20210
      Recent

      Manizha – the artist causing a stir as the Russian representative for Eurovision 2021:

      May 6, 2021

      Japan plan to release radioactive water into the ocean

      May 6, 2021

      The link between the AstraZeneca vaccine and blood clots

      April 29, 2021
    • Sport
      1. Varsity 2019
      2. Varsity 2018
      3. Varsity 2017
      4. Varsity 2016
      5. Varsity 2015
      6. Varsity 2014
      7. Varsity 2013
        • Varsity 2013 Results
        • Varsity 2013 – In tweets
      Featured

      Bangor Muddogs’ American Football: a young woman finding her place

      By Jade HillMarch 23, 20210
      Recent

      The 48-hour rise and fall of the European Super League

      April 27, 2021

      The European Super League is announced

      April 19, 2021

      Formula 1’s ‘Drive to Survive S3’ is released

      April 7, 2021
    • Students’ Union
      1. Union News
      2. Societies
      3. Volunteering
      4. Clubs
      Featured

      INTERVIEW: Be Period Positive

      By Caroline CartmillMarch 17, 20210
      Recent

      Bangor University Feminist Society

      March 30, 2021

      INTERVIEW: Be Period Positive

      March 17, 2021

      LGBT History Month in Bangor

      March 4, 2021
    • Issues
      • Current Issue
      • This year’s issues
      • Last year’s issues
      • Seren Archive
      • Seren Teams
    Seren
    Home»Arts & Culture»Film»The Fifth Estate
    Film

    The Fifth Estate

    Jack NicolBy Jack NicolNovember 13, 2013Updated:November 13, 2013No Comments2 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    the-fifth-estate-movie-poster-free-hd-wallpaper-17569

     

     

    Any film centred around the notorious organisation Wikileaks was bound to attract fire from all sides, so it comes as a surprise that The Fifth Estate has had such a quiet release. Benedict Cumberbatch plays controversial figure Julian Assange in the early years of the website, attracting worldwide fame and criticism in equal measure.

     

    Bill Condon, best known for his work on the Twilight Films, directs this biopic about the life of Assange and his ties to the organisation Wikileaks. The script is based in part on Inside Wikileaks, the book by former spokesperson for the organisation Daniel Domscheit-Berg (played by Daniel Bruhl in the film).

     

    The title refers to any theoretical group that operates outside society’s four classical ‘estates’: the clergy, nobility, commoners and the press. It is most often associated with journalistic organisations that are opposed to the mainstream press, making Wikileaks the perfect representation.

     

    Despite having the worst box office release of 2013, reviews have been fairly balanced. Cumberbatch excels as the silver-haired cyber activist. Bruhl provides the counterpoint to Benedict’s revolutionary, questioning the consequences of their actions.

     

    The plot however meanders wildly between Bourne style thriller sequences and odd, abstract representations of mundane computer work designed to breathe life into the act of website management. Too often these flashy sequences and montages only serve to distract the viewer from the human element of the story, maintaining style and exposition over any real substance.

     

    The film has been condemned by both Wikileaks and Assange, who claims it to be a ‘serious propaganda on Wikileaks and the integrity of its staff’. The founder went so far as to ask Cumberbatch to consider his involvement in the film.

     

    ‘I wanted to create a three dimensional portrait of a man far more maligned in the tabloid press than he is in the film’ Cumberbatch stated in regard to his performance.

     

    Overall The Fifth Estate fills a far too narrow niche, leaving both sides of the Wikileaks debate in want of a real understanding. Condon’s film is glamorous, romanticised, and entirely without impact.

    Benedict Cumberbatch Bill Condon callum Lewis film issue235 Julian Assange performance The fifth estate Twilight Films
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Jack Nicol
    • Twitter

    Film Editor 2013/14

    Related Posts

    REVIEW: It Follows

    May 2, 2021

    Shakespeariana: 5 Accessible Retellings

    May 1, 2021

    Obituary: Remembering Helen McCrory

    April 25, 2021

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    MORE INFORMATION
    • ABOUT
    • ADVERTISE
    • CONTACT US
    • GET INVOLVED
    • MEMBERS
    Links
    • Bangor University Bangor University
    • Google+ Google+
    • Undeb Bangor Undeb Bangor
    About

    Seren is Bangor University Students’ Union’s English Language Newspaper

    We have editorial independence from both Bangor University and Bangor Students’ Union. Seren is written by students for students and we’d love you to get involved!

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.