Reality is almost a more fascinating experiment in filmmaking as it a taut and suspenseful drama. But happily it’s both. I’ve never seen anything quite like it except maybe in a documentary that uses too many reenactments. But this is all reenactment… a movie based on transcripts alone, told almost in real-time.

The flick is about Reality Winner, a woman being investigated by the FBI for purloining a top secret document. It starts with the agents pulling up, politely issuing a search warrant, and so very nicely proceeding to interview her. And she goes along with it for the full runtime of the movie.

I missed this story back in 2017 so I had no idea if she was guilty or not. Whether this was a tale of a leaker getting caught or of FBI agents railroading an innocent woman. And the best part is, it’s played without drawing distinct battle lines. I think ultimately they are siding with the whistleblower, but the actual meat of the movie is Just the Facts of the recordings.

The filmmaking is super tense. Probably one of the most suspenseful films I’ve seen in a long time. The gentle way the screws are turned is impressive as the interview just keeps going and going. You know the FBI knows more than they are saying and are leaving the door open for her to either lie or come clean. The acting and editing are masterful examples of how to be suspenseful without the usual bag of tricks..

Throughout the movie, it cuts to the audio transcript and back to the actors to show they are acting out the actual interview. Some of the transcript was redacted and the way they handle that visually and audibly is very cool as well.

I really dug this film for its approach and for its craft as a suspense thriller/drama. It’s very well acted and very tense and uncomfortable. I like that you probably get out of it what you brought into it, even if the moviemakers are ultimately sympathetic to Reality Winner. This is a remarkably good and weirdly cool movie.

Score: 92