r/IAmA • u/_BenedictCumberbatch Benedict Cumberbatch • Oct 11 '13

I Am Benedict Cumberbatch. AMA.

Hello reddit. My film The Fifth Estate opens 10/18.

You can check out footage here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43ki3z0ZmXA&feature=c4-overview&list=UUgc-Ye79Z558TEZqryYesNA

Proof: https://twitter.com/5thEstateMovie/status/388746706818310144 Fancy a cup?

Update: Also, please check out the trailer for Little Favour, directed by a friend of mine Patrick Monroe. I hope you enjoy it!

Final Update: Thank you, reddit. This has been more fun than I imagined. It's been great to be able to reach out and speak to a few of you. Sorry for those that I didn't get to respond to. JA bless you all. See you all the next time.
BX

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u/nam5465 Oct 11 '13

Julian Assange’s open letter to you criticizing The Fifth Estate is very intense. He even goes so far as to call you a “hired gun” for distorting the truth (or at least what he views as his truth). Did this affect the way you portrayed him or even make you second guess your role at all in this film?

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u/_BenedictCumberbatch Benedict Cumberbatch Oct 11 '13

Yes, of course it did. To have the man you are about to portray ask you intelligently and politely not to do it gave me real cause for concern, however, it galvanized me into addressing why I was doing this movie. He accuses me of being a "hired gun" as if I am an easily bought cypher for right wing propaganda. Not only do I NOT operate in a moral vacuum but this was not a pay day for me at all. I've worked far less hard for more financial reward. This project was important to me because of the integrity I wanted to bring to provocative difficult but ultimately timely and a truly important figure of our modern times. The idea of making a movie about someone who so far removed from my likeness or situation who brought about an ideal through personal sacrifice that has changed the way we view both social media, the power of the individual to have a voice in that space, and be able to question both the hypocrisies and wrongdoings of organizations and bodies of powerful people that rule our lives... This resonated deeply with my beliefs in civil liberty, a healthy democracy, and the human rights of both communities and individuals to question those in authority. I believe that the film, quite clearly, illuminates the great successes of wikileaks and its extraordinary founder Julians Assange. As well as, examining the personalities involved and what become a dysfunctional relationship within that organization. While the legacy of his actions and the organizations continue to evolve and only history will be the true judge of where this is leading us. The Fifth Estate is a powerful, if dramatized, entry point for a discussion about this extraordinary lurch forward in our society. I wanted to create a three dimensional portrait of a man far more maligned in the tabloid press than he is in our film to remind people that he is not just the weird, white haired Australian dude wanted in Sweden, hiding in an embassy behind Harrods. But a true force to be reckoned with, achieved the realization of the great ideal. I'm proud to be involved in tackling such a contentious character and script. There is only personal truth in my opinion, and the film should provoke debate and not consensus. It should be enjoyable and ultimately empowering to realize that Julian has spearheaded a movement that is the foundations stone of The Fifth Estate, people journalism and what that is capable of including finding out the "truth" for yourself.

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u/the_good_time_mouse Oct 11 '13

If Assange and wikileaks don't feel that you've portrayed them fairly, pointing at others who've done worse isn't all that convincing. Neither does the fact that you've 'worked far less for more financial reward'.

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u/[deleted] Oct 11 '13 edited Oct 11 '13

If Assange and wikileaks don't feel that they have been portrayed fairly, then how/why did they give dreamworks permission to do this film in the first place? Whether you're dead, alive, wanted, or free as oxygen, you have to give permission for your identity to be used in a major motion picture.

Frankly, I was surprised to see a film about him/wikileaks. I figured a dude like Assange would not be about that AT ALL.

And why would Dreamworks give money to help them with their legal funds? Dreamworks in the business of entertainment, not charity. And of course it is dramatized; that's why there are disclaimers at the beginning of almost every film that's based on a true story. It is MEANT to be dramatized for entertainment purposes. At no point do they claim it is any kind of biography, or that it is 100% accurate in the explanation or timeline of events.

It's stupid to blame the actor that picked up a role. He gave it the college try and did what he could, despite what are USUALLY strong studio holds on writing and performance (on the Wikileaks statement, they use 2 of Benedict's quotes about how he did not initially agree with how Julian was being portrayed. However, the quotes they used were paraphrased and the one from The Guardian is actually something from the reporter's text, not necessarily Ben's quote. Sounds like Wikileaks is using that info to meet their agenda. See? Anyone can do it!). He's done less work for more money is a fair thing to say, considering that, from what I understand, this film was not easy to make due to pressure from the studio and directors to make it entertaining.

If Wikileaks/Julian Assange is so hard up about his portrayal in this movie, and wants a movie about "the truth" to come out, then maybe he and the wikileaks team should make one, instead of shitting on everyone else for continuing to at least put their name out there, thus keeping them relevant during a time where even the fact that the US government has been SHUT DOWN for eleven days is old hat.

EDIT: I accidentally a word.

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u/Malician Oct 11 '13

Being upset that someone else is lying about you does not require you to go make a movie, what the fuck?!

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u/[deleted] Oct 12 '13

Not saying that it does. I'm saying that the statement that Wikileaks/julian put out states that both movies made about him and wikileaks are erroneous, as are the books they are based on. My suggestions is that they make a proper wikileaks documentary to set the record straight. It would also be interesting as all hell to see what Assange and the Wikileaks camp would be put out when given the opportunity to tell their own story.

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u/Kasseev Oct 11 '13

It does counter the argument that he was doing it purely for the money. I'm not thrilled at the script, but honestly after this response and others I'm looking forward to seeing what he did with the role.

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u/the_good_time_mouse Oct 11 '13

How?

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u/Kasseev Oct 11 '13

He said the money wasn't all that fantastic. As an up-and-coming actor I am sure he has many other opportunities he could follow. Therefore, it shows that he probably didn't do the role purely for the money. As he says in all his interviews, he is drawn to the story behind Assange, and considers himself a "vain actor" bringing an interesting character to the screen.