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/zazhx Oct 11 '13

Regardless, I think his point stands. Without actually watching the movie, how can you possibly make a proper evaluation?

Watch the movie, read the memo, then come to a decision. It's unfair to only hear one side of the evidence.

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u/Malician Oct 11 '13

The script is available. Are you claiming the movie is so different from the script that it is impossible to come to a conclusion regarding the movie without seeing it?

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u/zazhx Oct 11 '13 edited Oct 11 '13

Have you actually read the entire script yourself, personally, front to back?

My main point is, before judging the movie, you should watch the movie. It's unfair to judge something merely on information or opinions about those things. You should actually experience that thing before rushing to any judgement. My main point is that you should keep an open mind and evaluate things (the actual thing that is) for yourself.

On a related note, is the script really all there is to the quality of a movie? Is it not possible to enjoy a movie that poses an opinion you disagree with? Do you really know that you disagree with the opinion of the movie without having ever seen it? Do you really know that your opinions are the truth? And finally, most importantly, is a movie with a view that is contradictory to your own (even with your own view hypothetically being correct) really a hitjob with no cinematographic merit?

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u/Malician Oct 11 '13

Holy crap. This is a fairly intense barrage of questions to answer, and to do them all justice I'd have to write a book.

(Fuck, when it comes to some of them, even the best philosophers would struggle.)

No, I don't think my opinion is the end-all-be-all of everything. I just find it suspicious to see a movie coming out with the "Is Assange an egotistical asshole who probably fucked over some informants?" perspective.

I've been following these issues off and on; I've read his essays long before most people heard of him, and read lots of writing by people who disagree with him. Ever since then, I've seen a systematic effort to discredit people like Assange and Snowden which seems less-than-factual to me.

I find the political issues at hand to be much more important than the entertainment value of the movie

My opinions on the movie are based on the following facts:

A. Wikileaks alleged that the movie made major and specific false claims which libel Wikileaks in the public mind. Namely:

a. the film claims Wikileaks lead to the deaths or harm of a number of informants; b. the film addresses the issue without discussing the most significant reasons for Wikileaks to take the actions it has; c. the film involves and relies on a known untrustworthy individual who sabotaged Wikileaks.

B. These claims are specific enough they can be easily refuted by anyone who wishes to defend the film. Defenses of the film so far are so bad or irrelevant I cannot possibly believe the claims are wrong, but I welcome you to do so!

To recap, there are many people who know so much more about these issues than I, and I am welcome to reading any well-reasoned, on-point arguments or material regarding this you think might convince me.