The quality of the actors should tell you this is a worthy story to be told. So concentrate it's a complicated tale that spans years and crosses party lines. Diane Feinstein puts a tenacious man in charge of looking into torture by the CIA. There is a lot to learn about torture. The movie shows both sides with this povs. The justifiers want to prevent another attack and save lives. The critics say in the majority of times it doesn't work, they only get info they already know and sometimes they get the wrong guy. Their aren't many movies telling how a government agency does bad things. This is one of the few. Adam Driver gives a convincing performance - outraged when he needs to be but not overacted. Annette Bening plays Feinstein. A host of familiar faces add credibility to supporting roles. This movie keeps a complex issue clear and highlights the opposition to the report from both political parties. A brave movie.

Not comparing this to anything going on right now (let's not if you can),because the climate right now is toxic as it is. Especially because this shows the depths of politically tip toeing around certain subjects ... and trying to keep the peace, even when you know what is wrong ... and what is right.

So while there is a force trying to make things right ... you can understand all the side in this mix. At least I felt like that. And the great actors portraying the real people involved in this helped the issue (no pun intended). It may be long and there may be a lot of obstacles - but it is worth it, if you care enough. And why shouldn't you? What can be a "bummer" or a no go for some, is the depiction of violence or rather torture. But to really understand some of the stuff this is about it was necessary (imho).

A really well made movie, with fine performances and dialog and a (real life) story that is quite mind blowing ...

Greetings again from the darkness. Does the end justify the means? Do two wrongs make a right? These are questions of ethics and morality, and when it comes to the government, they can also be questions of legal and illegal, or even life and death. Scott Z Burns offers up his feature film directorial debut, and he has been best known as a screenwriter for Steven Soderbergh films such as THE LAUNDROMAT, SIDE EFFECTS, and THE INFORMANT! Mr. Burns certainly didn't choose an easy route for his first time in the director chair, as this is a heavy, thought-provoking, stomach-churner.

Adam Driver plays Daniel Jones, a Senate staffer under Senator Dianne Feinstein. She charges him with leading the Senate investigation into the CIA's Enhanced Interrogation Technique (EIT) program after the 9/11 attack. It's easy to see why so many viewed this as a bad gig, but Jones became obsessed with uncovering the truth about what happened, who did what, and who knew what and when they knew it. This government procedural offers us an education on red tape, political boundaries, and the expertise in protecting fiefdoms in D.C. In other words, everything that we fear and despise about our own government officials is on display here.

That said, it is refreshing to see someone so focused on getting to the truth as Jones is/was ... despite the systematic obstacles (destruction of tapes, party divisions). Annette Bening shines as Senator Feinstein and is quite effective in portraying just how difficult it can be for politicians to juggle all sides and pressures when a topic is so "hot". The film covers a period between 2003 and 2012, and most of the run time is spent on Jones' research for the report. The supporting cast is deep and talented, and includes Jon Hamm as Obama Chief of Staff Denis McDonough, Michael C Hall, Maura Tierney, Victor Slezak, Tim Blake Nelson, Ben McKenzie, Matthew Rhys, Corey Stoll, and Ted Levine (as CIA Director John Brennan). One of the more interesting aspects of the film involves the contractors behind the EIT program. Basically, they are academics with no real world case studies or experience - just two guys looking to cash in on a lucrative government deal at a time when a country was desperate for answers.

Watching the battle over the final release (or not) of "The Torture Report" (the word torture was redacted here) injects quite a bit of tension, and the inclusion of archival footage from the period is very effective. What's less effective is the overuse of shaky-cam in the first portion of the film, and the score is downright annoying at times as it attempts to ensure we are frustrated with the political wranglings. On the other hand, the dialogue is really crisp and there are some quietly-tense exchanges between folks that are well-written and well-acted. Adam Driver carries the bulk of the film and he is perfectly cast.

The obvious comparisons are to ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN and SPOTLIGHT, though this one never quite reaches that level. Still, it's thought-provoking to watch as Jones considers a New York Times reporter to be the most ethical character he can turn to in his efforts to get the truth out. The film doesn't really choose sides ... everyone who participated in a cover-up or illegal activities takes a shot, as does Kathryn Bigelow's ZERO DARK THIRTY. This was a dark time in U.S. history, and it reminds us how difficult it seems to be to do the right thing while in government. Perhaps that's the biggest takeaway.