‘Winner’movie review

Category: Movies

Based on the true story of Reality Winner, yes, that’s her real name, this is a movie about choices and conscience. Emilia Jones stars as Reality, a woman who, from a young age, decided she wanted to do something important with her life.

After seeing America attacked on September 11, Reality knew she wanted to do something important. Her father, a drugged out man who saw things in a different light than her mother, instilled in her conflicts about life’s differences. For instance, he berated the family when they went to a pet store for a puppy instead of a shelter. 

Directly after high school Reality enlisted in the Air Force. She already knew several Arabic languages and was eager to put her knowledge to good use. After basic training she was tasked with listening to conversations and flagging potential terrorist plots. By doing this she did make a big change in the world. She actually stopped many attacks. Her conscience played games with her, however, and she knew by doing her job that people would be killed. Albeit they were the bad people. Yet innocent people would be saved. 

This woman was always thinking. She just about drove herself nuts with the “what ifs” and the “should I” and more. She really was conflicted deep within her mind.

When she left the Air Force to join the NSA (to earn more money to help care for her ill father), she thought she would be doing more than transcribing conversations and information. She had wanted to go to the Middle East to help build water tanks and make the people’s lives better. But that was not to be.

As an NSA contractor she discovered secrets that the government was keeping. When she learned about Russia’s involvement in the American election, she decided the people needed to know. She secretly sent the information to a media site.

Divulging government secrets is an act of treason and Reality was arrested. She spent several years in prison.

This film shows the life of this woman from the time she was a teen to her time in prison. She was definitely a deeply conflicted woman. 

All of this information in the film is out in the public so there are no spoiler alerts here.

Frustration might be the response of viewers when they watch the movie. Deciding what is in the best interest of the public and what should be kept secret is a difficult decision. Some would argue that the government should not keep any secrets from its people. But by keeping things hidden, are they keeping the world from things that could erupt in further conflicts? 

Winner will premiere in select theaters September 13, 2024 and On Demand that same day. Also in the film are Connie Britton, Danny Ramirez, Kathryn Newton, and Zach Galifianakis.  The movie is not rated.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Vertical