THE REPORT – Review

In this tense, gripping true story drama, Adam Driver plays a FBI agent who relentless pursues the truth about the torture of suspected terrorists in the aftermath of 9/11. His searing report exposed the brutal reality of CIA’s enhanced interrogation techniques, which were adopted in the wake of 9/11. Even if you are a news junkie who thinks you know this story well, this powerful drama will take you by surprise and catch you up in its thriller tension, as it weaves an epic, eye-opening tale of secrecy, deceit, cover-up and corruption, in one man’s dogged pursuit of the truth.

Scott Z. Burns both directs and wrote the script, based on the story of idealistic young FBI agent Daniel Jones (Adam Driver). Jones was galvanized by the events of 9/11 and had changed his college major to security in order to fight terrorists. He is tasked by Senator Dianne Feinstein (Annette Bening) with investigating what is going on with the CIA’s enhanced interrogation techniques after disturbing hints about water boarding and other techniques surface. What Jones uncovers is much bigger and more awful than either expect.

The investigation takes place in the fraught national atmosphere immediately after 9/11, when anything seemed acceptable in the pursuit of terrorists and questioning what was done in that quest was seen as unpatriotic, no matter how ineffective or legally-questionable the techniques. Although much of the story takes place in shadowy garages rooms and claustrophobic hidden rooms. it has the taut feel of film noir or edgy spy thriller, thanks to Burns’ skillful direction and Eigil Bryld’s oft-eerie, desaturated cinematography. The drama often evokes the feel of classic political thrillers such as THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR and ALL THE PRESIDENTS MEN. As Jones encounters rising resistance to the release of his detailed report about horrific facts, the feeling shifts to the Kafkaesque.

Adam Driver’s character is at the center of the story and most scenes, and he gives a riveting, moving performance as a young man motivated by patriotism who becomes consumed by this one task. Driver’s Jones is so immersed in his quest to uncover the truth, that he hardly notices the passage of days. As h goes down this rabbit hole, he seems like a man in the grips of addiction, compulsively peeling back layers of secrecy, false science and cover-ups. Appalled by what he uncovers, he becomes equally obsessed with getting the truth out to the American people through his report, despite official obstruction an political pressures to just drop it and move on.

Annette Bening is affecting as Feinstein, the senator Jones works for, the one who sets him on this task. At first, she is impressed by his dedication but later begins to question where his investigation is going. By turns, she is irritated by his insistence on the release of his exhaustive report, worried about the political complications its release might create, and concerned about the personal toll the investigation is taking on him, and finally moved by his devotion to the task that has taken over his life.

Jon Hamm plays a smooth character who seems helpful at first, then not, as the investigation goes into hidden corners. The fine cast also includes Corey Stoll, Tim Blake Nelson, Maura Tierney and Michael C. Hall, who all give strong performances as various officials who either help or hinder Jones. But, in the end, it is the emotional power of Driver’s performance as a man so totally committed to revealing the truth, as much as to what he uncovered, that makes this film so impressive and emotionally powerful.

THE REPORT delivers an edge-of-your-seat political thriller that will grab you even if you think you know the story, as well as an inspiring portrait of a heroic man determined to do the right thing against all odds.

RATING: 4 out of 4 stars