The Report (2019)

I deem The Report "pretty good/good," meaning slightly less than a full-fledged "good" film. It is, perhaps, a bit too clinical or methodical in its approach, and one might wish for more character development, especially regarding the protagonist, Senate staffer Daniel Jones, played by Adam Driver. Although the movie does not really offer anything new for people who have followed the subject over the years, it provides some shuddering shots and scenes regarding the CIA's torture program (otherwise known by its duplicitous euphemism, "enhanced interrogation techniques"). Indeed, writer-director Scott Z. Burns occasionally uses both indoor and outdoor space quite effectively in his shots, showing the chilling isolation that accompanies so much of Jones' pursuit. And The Report builds genuine suspense regarding the question of whether Jones (or the CIA, or both) will be indicted and whether California Democratic senator Dianne Feinstein, for whom Jones works, will live up to her principles and support a release of Jones' full synopsis or whether she will compromise her values out of political self-interest. As Senator Feinstein, Annette Bening delivers the film's standout performance, keeping the viewer on his or her toes with a tense, ambiguous, finely wrought and mannered performance. Bening captures Feinstein's professionalism, cautiousness, and mixture of straight-laced terseness with idiosyncratic thoughtfulness. As Jones, Driver is solid and appropriately grim, if unremarkable. The Report seems to adopt Jones' single-minded determination to expose facts and champion ideals and misses the opportunity for greater character development and personal reflection. In this regard, it comes up short of Official Secrets, which played briefly early in the fall with Keira Knightley as real-life British whistleblower Katherine Gun. But The Report offers solid—sometimes savvy—filmmaking, and it is undoubtedly a civically significant movie. 

Additionally, as the original poster indicated, the movie is also tough on the Obama administration, showing it to be far more interested in the politics of the CIA and Bush administration's torture program than the principles of revelation, transparency, and accountability. Indeed, many people who saw Obama as an idealist circa 2008 would be deeply disappointed by his moral apathy here. And of course, the film makes the point that most of Jones' report remains classified, thus depriving our democracy of important information and allowing powerful perpetrators to remain unaccountable. The suspense comes in whether Feinstein will at least support the release of a vital synopsis that has not been redacted by the CIA to the point of obfuscation and irrelevance.

The Report is actually quite similar to Dark Waters in terms of structure (straightforward, year-to-year investigating and revelations based on actual events in recent history) and style (grim, ominous). What makes Dark Waters much better (a "very good" film) is that it develops character and personal investment to a much greater extent. 

came here to Say exactly that, how similar it is. Yes Dark Waters is a better movie but this one is good and just as important. 7/10 from me.

As I have noted, there is not quite enough character study in The Report, especially regarding the protagonist, Daniel Jones. Also, although his general grimness does fit this character, I am not sure why filmmakers seem so eager to cast Adam Driver. He strikes me as a solid, but limited, supporting actor who can occasionally play a protagonist when he fits the role (as in Jim Jarmusch's underrated Paterson from three years ago). And, yes, he has an intriguing "look," one that would work well in a Western. However, I am not sure about featuring him as a leading man in this, that, and whatever. 

The Report does, though, keep the viewer in some suspense regarding how Feinstein will ultimately act. She evinces some concern (or allows her staff to evince it) regarding her poll numbers and her standing as a moderate, in effect suggesting that she could just be panderer rather than a leader. And, in that sense, the film brews some intrigue. 

😏

You see the problem here?

It shows that you don't really take things into consideration. You make huge generalizations. That and your bad spelling shows that you post immediately without giving things a second thought.