The second narrative film and the third overall in almost as many years to cover similar, if not identical ground, Winner, a comedy-drama/biopic centered on the uniquely named Reality Winner, the ex-U.S. Air Force veteran, translator extraordinaire, and Nsa whistleblower, fully delivers on its promise of an idiosyncratic character study and exploration of what, if anything, the idea and ideal of patriotism still means in 21st-century America. Directed by Susanna Fogel from a screenplay by New York Magazine writer and University of Iowa professor Kerry Howley, Winner gives viewers rare insight into the Texas-born whistleblower from age 10 or 11 through her post-incarceration life. Framed as a rueful, cynical look back by Winner in voiceover mode,...
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- 2/7/2024
- Screen Anarchy
Ever since The Big Short, Adam McKay’s winking and sardonic explainer about the 2008 financial crisis, a redundant cottage industry of similar-minded criminal biopics has tried to capitalize on the director’s witty and righteous formula. Inserting self-aware narration and commentary at the top of—and throughout—a movie isn’t exactly a new technique. It’s just that, at this point, freeze frames and slow motion sequences of exclamatory moments, coupled with “You’re probably wondering how I got here” preambles feel like uninspired choices. But that’s how Winner, the second movie in the last year to document Nsa whistleblower Reality Winner, chooses to begin this unexpectedly bouncy dramedy—with its protagonist in handcuffs and a lighthearted “let me explain” attitude.
It’s a jarring change in tone if you’ve seen Reality, last year’s lean and mean Max offering featuring Sydney Sweeney in one of her best roles to date.
It’s a jarring change in tone if you’ve seen Reality, last year’s lean and mean Max offering featuring Sydney Sweeney in one of her best roles to date.
- 1/29/2024
- by Jake Kring-Schreifels
- The Film Stage
Emilia Jones in Winner.Heather McIntosh: 'We're exploring her obsessive nature and it does cover a pretty big range, the Ocd that Reality’s navigating, her time in prison. It does sort of ride this wave, very anxietal stuff but also up' Photo: Courtesy of Sundance Institute Reality Winner might sound like a description of the latest Big Brother finale but it’s the genuine name of a US whistleblower who, while working as a National Security Agency leaked a document showing Russian interference in the 2016 elections. She is played by Emilia Jones, who is reteaming with director Susanna Fogel after last year’s Cat Person. Rather than the usual shadowy dramas, along the lines of Official Secrets, Fogel, working from a script from Kerry Howley, instead presents the action through a brightly coloured lens. The scoring, too, from Heather McIntosh - who is also reteaming with Fogel after Cat Person...
- 1/28/2024
- by Amber Wilkinson
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Sundance film festival: The second film in a year on the Nsa whistleblower takes a brisk, jazzy look at her life before and after her headline-making leaks
Reality Winner has the perfect name for a digital-era martyr – memorable and freighted, seems fake but isn’t, deeply ironic. Late-night shows had a field day in 2017 with that moniker, for a whistleblower who tried to expose the truth about Russian interference in the 2016 election and was made into a bogeyman by cable news and a meal by the Trump administration.
The name (and those late-night bits) is acknowledged a lot in Winner, the second film about her in less than a year. The film, directed by Susanna Fogel from a screenplay by the essayist Kerry Howley, seems to relish saying what it assumes the audience is thinking. What the straight-up biopic would imply, Winner outright says – this a story about what happened...
Reality Winner has the perfect name for a digital-era martyr – memorable and freighted, seems fake but isn’t, deeply ironic. Late-night shows had a field day in 2017 with that moniker, for a whistleblower who tried to expose the truth about Russian interference in the 2016 election and was made into a bogeyman by cable news and a meal by the Trump administration.
The name (and those late-night bits) is acknowledged a lot in Winner, the second film about her in less than a year. The film, directed by Susanna Fogel from a screenplay by the essayist Kerry Howley, seems to relish saying what it assumes the audience is thinking. What the straight-up biopic would imply, Winner outright says – this a story about what happened...
- 1/23/2024
- by Adrian Horton
- The Guardian - Film News
Towards the end of Susanna Fogel’s frustratingly glib biopic “Winner,” a sassy bit of voiceover notes that, although the leaking of said information had life-changing consequences for the person who released it, the actual revelation that the Russian government interfered in the 2016 presidential election didn’t make much of an impact. The report was published, some pundits were smug about it, and everyone moved on. Similarly, the film makes a cute visual joke — a feed scrolls down the screen, combining serious news and lifestyle puff pieces into a numbing firehose of information — and gets back to business.
But — to crib the know-it-all tone of Fogel’s film — here’s the thing: the remaining 102 minutes and change of “Winner” celebrate the ideas of standing for truth, acting on your values, and really doing something that will change the world for the better. If the realization that her plan was ultimately...
But — to crib the know-it-all tone of Fogel’s film — here’s the thing: the remaining 102 minutes and change of “Winner” celebrate the ideas of standing for truth, acting on your values, and really doing something that will change the world for the better. If the realization that her plan was ultimately...
- 1/22/2024
- by Katie Rife
- Indiewire
The U.S. government decided to make an example of Reality Winner, giving the former Nsa translator a five-year prison sentence. So it’s only fair that director Susanna Fogel should be able to make an example of her too — only this time, to very different ends. “Winner” is well acted, well told and … well, a tough sell to people tired of politics. It’s not a typical whistleblower movie, like “The Insider” or “Official Secrets” (both excellent), but more of a prickly character portrait, imbued with humor and a headstrong sense of defiance.
Let’s get this out of the way up front: Reality Winner has an unusual name, one that has proven ironic (as well as fodder for countless talk-show comics) since her act of defiance was made public. Last year, Tina Satter’s superb experimental indie “Reality” stuck to the facts of her crime, relying on the official...
Let’s get this out of the way up front: Reality Winner has an unusual name, one that has proven ironic (as well as fodder for countless talk-show comics) since her act of defiance was made public. Last year, Tina Satter’s superb experimental indie “Reality” stuck to the facts of her crime, relying on the official...
- 1/21/2024
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
In 2018, a judge sentenced Reality Winner to more than five years in prison for leaking information about Russian interference in the 2016 United States presidential election. Judge J. Randall Hall wanted to make an example of the former Nsa translator, who informed Americans of what their government preferred to keep hidden. Winner was 26 years old at the time and received the longest sentence in the country’s history for “an unauthorized disclosure to the media.”
Susanna Fogel’s latest film tries to make a different example of the former federal employee. Winner shapes the somber material of its subject’s life into a jaunty coming-of-age story. It builds a profile of Reality, played here by Emilia Jones (Coda), as a staunchly humanitarian figure who wanted to dedicate her life to service. That ambition finds an odd home in the U.S. military. The screenplay — a collaboration between Fogel and journalist Kerry Howley...
Susanna Fogel’s latest film tries to make a different example of the former federal employee. Winner shapes the somber material of its subject’s life into a jaunty coming-of-age story. It builds a profile of Reality, played here by Emilia Jones (Coda), as a staunchly humanitarian figure who wanted to dedicate her life to service. That ambition finds an odd home in the U.S. military. The screenplay — a collaboration between Fogel and journalist Kerry Howley...
- 1/21/2024
- by Lovia Gyarkye
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Kerry Howley, a screenwriter, author and essayist, has signed with Black Bear for representation. The news comes as Howley is about to make waves at Sundance, where “Winner,” a comedic coming-of-age story that she wrote, is going to debut. Howley adapted the story from her own New York Magazine profile on Reality Winner, an Air Force vet and Nsa translator who leaked an intelligence report about Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections. The film is directed by Susanna Fogel (“Cat Person”). It stars Emilia Jones, Connie Britton and Zach Galifianakis. “Winner” will debut in Sundance’s Premieres section.
Howley authored the non-fiction book “Bottom’s Up and The Devil Laughs,” which was recently picked as a New York Times 2023 Top Ten Book of the Year and a Vanity Fair Best Book of the Year. She is currently a staff writer at New York Magazine, most recently contributing the cover...
Howley authored the non-fiction book “Bottom’s Up and The Devil Laughs,” which was recently picked as a New York Times 2023 Top Ten Book of the Year and a Vanity Fair Best Book of the Year. She is currently a staff writer at New York Magazine, most recently contributing the cover...
- 1/16/2024
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: The Wilds star Shannon Berry has joined the cast of Susanna Fogel’s Canadian feature Winner.
Berry is appearing opposite Emilia Jones, Zach Galifianakis, Kathryn Newton, Danny Ramirez and Connie Britton in the darkly comedic biopic. The casting reunites the emerging Australian actress with The Spy Who Dumped Me director Fogel, who directed her in the pilot of Prime Video drama series The Wilds.
Winner is a biopic of Reality Winner (Jones), a brilliant misfit U.S. Air Force member and Nsa consultant who in 2018 was given the longest prison sentence in American history for the unauthorized release of government information to the media — five years, three months — after leaking an intelligence report about Russian interference in the 2016 election.
We first told you about the film last October, as the film went into principal photography. The feature is set to take on the traditional whistleblower thriller — a coming-of-age story about...
Berry is appearing opposite Emilia Jones, Zach Galifianakis, Kathryn Newton, Danny Ramirez and Connie Britton in the darkly comedic biopic. The casting reunites the emerging Australian actress with The Spy Who Dumped Me director Fogel, who directed her in the pilot of Prime Video drama series The Wilds.
Winner is a biopic of Reality Winner (Jones), a brilliant misfit U.S. Air Force member and Nsa consultant who in 2018 was given the longest prison sentence in American history for the unauthorized release of government information to the media — five years, three months — after leaking an intelligence report about Russian interference in the 2016 election.
We first told you about the film last October, as the film went into principal photography. The feature is set to take on the traditional whistleblower thriller — a coming-of-age story about...
- 5/16/2023
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Emilia Jones (Coda) is set to lead director Susanna Fogel’s darkly comedic biopic Winner, which has started principal photography.
After exposing Russia’s interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, Reality Winner was sentenced to five and a half years in prison — the longest sentence ever given to someone charged under the Espionage Act — for leaking a government document.
Connie Britton has been cast to play Reality’s mother and Galifianakis Reality’s father. Danny Ramirez and Kathryn Newton also will star.
The story follows Winner (Jones), a brilliant young misfit from Texas who finds her morals challenged while serving in the U.S. Air Force and working as an Nsa contractor. The film will offer a fresh take on the traditional whistleblower thriller; the coming-of-age story follows an idealistic young woman persecuted for standing by her principles.
The film is written by Kerry Howley and based on Howley...
After exposing Russia’s interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, Reality Winner was sentenced to five and a half years in prison — the longest sentence ever given to someone charged under the Espionage Act — for leaking a government document.
Connie Britton has been cast to play Reality’s mother and Galifianakis Reality’s father. Danny Ramirez and Kathryn Newton also will star.
The story follows Winner (Jones), a brilliant young misfit from Texas who finds her morals challenged while serving in the U.S. Air Force and working as an Nsa contractor. The film will offer a fresh take on the traditional whistleblower thriller; the coming-of-age story follows an idealistic young woman persecuted for standing by her principles.
The film is written by Kerry Howley and based on Howley...
- 10/24/2022
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
Emilia Jones to Star in ‘Winner’ as Whistleblower Who Exposed Russia’s Interference in 2016 Election
“Coda” star Emilia Jones will portray whistleblower Reality Winner in “Winner,” a dark-comedy biopic from director Susanna Fogel.
Winner, a former U.S. Air Force member and Nsa contractor, served in prison after she leaked an intelligence report about Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Her five and a half years behind bars is the longest sentence ever given to someone charged under the Espionage Act for leaking a government document.
Described as a “fresh take on the traditional whistleblower thriller,” the coming-of-age story “Winner” is based on Kerry Howley’s 2017 New York Magazine feature that portrays a brilliant and young misfit from Texas who finds her morals challenged while serving in the U.S. Air Force and working as a Nsa contractor.
“As a filmmaker, I strive to tell stories that interrogate the world we live in and the systems that are broken in it. But in a fun way,...
Winner, a former U.S. Air Force member and Nsa contractor, served in prison after she leaked an intelligence report about Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Her five and a half years behind bars is the longest sentence ever given to someone charged under the Espionage Act for leaking a government document.
Described as a “fresh take on the traditional whistleblower thriller,” the coming-of-age story “Winner” is based on Kerry Howley’s 2017 New York Magazine feature that portrays a brilliant and young misfit from Texas who finds her morals challenged while serving in the U.S. Air Force and working as a Nsa contractor.
“As a filmmaker, I strive to tell stories that interrogate the world we live in and the systems that are broken in it. But in a fun way,...
- 10/24/2022
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Kristina Moore has joined UTA as an agent in the Media Rights division.
The veteran literary agent will be based out of New York, reporting to UTA Partner Keya Khayatian and his fellow Co-Head of Media Rights, Jason Richman.
“Our Media Rights group continues to identify and help bring groundbreaking stories to an array of platforms,” said UTA Co-President David Kramer. “Kristina will help further expand the division’s success, and Keya, Jason and I are thrilled to have her join the team.”
“I am delighted to join UTA, whose work and clients I have admired for many years, and its phenomenal Media Rights department,” added Moore. “I share their dedication to finding new opportunities for diverse voices and providing full-service representation for writers.”
Throughout her career, Moore has worked with a wide range of established and emerging authors, including Neal Bascomb (The Winter Fortress), Chelsea Bieker (Godshot: A...
The veteran literary agent will be based out of New York, reporting to UTA Partner Keya Khayatian and his fellow Co-Head of Media Rights, Jason Richman.
“Our Media Rights group continues to identify and help bring groundbreaking stories to an array of platforms,” said UTA Co-President David Kramer. “Kristina will help further expand the division’s success, and Keya, Jason and I are thrilled to have her join the team.”
“I am delighted to join UTA, whose work and clients I have admired for many years, and its phenomenal Media Rights department,” added Moore. “I share their dedication to finding new opportunities for diverse voices and providing full-service representation for writers.”
Throughout her career, Moore has worked with a wide range of established and emerging authors, including Neal Bascomb (The Winter Fortress), Chelsea Bieker (Godshot: A...
- 1/6/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Big Beach, the production company behind Oscar contenders The Farewell and A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood, has tapped Susanna Fogel to direct Winner, a biopic about former American intelligence specialist Reality Leigh Winner.
Winner was the first to expose Russia’s interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. She was arrested in 2017 for removing confidential documents from the government and feeding them to the press in 2018; Winner was sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison.
Kerry Howley, who wrote the 2017 New York Magazine article Who is Reality Winner?, adapted the screenplay. Dani Melia and Peter Saraf of Big Beach will produce alongside Amanda Phillips, who brought the project to them.
Fogel, repped by UTA and Lighthouse Management, most recently penned the script for the critically acclaimed comedy Booksmart, which was directed by Olivia Wilde. She also co-wrote and directed The Spy Who Dumped Me, starring Mila Kunis and Kate McKinnon,...
Winner was the first to expose Russia’s interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. She was arrested in 2017 for removing confidential documents from the government and feeding them to the press in 2018; Winner was sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison.
Kerry Howley, who wrote the 2017 New York Magazine article Who is Reality Winner?, adapted the screenplay. Dani Melia and Peter Saraf of Big Beach will produce alongside Amanda Phillips, who brought the project to them.
Fogel, repped by UTA and Lighthouse Management, most recently penned the script for the critically acclaimed comedy Booksmart, which was directed by Olivia Wilde. She also co-wrote and directed The Spy Who Dumped Me, starring Mila Kunis and Kate McKinnon,...
- 12/3/2019
- by Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
A biopic is in the works on the life of Reality Winner, a former American intelligence contractor who was arrested for leaking a classified report about Russia’s interference in the 2016 election and charged with the first criminal leak case in President Donald Trump’s administration.
The project, titled “Winner,” was announced on Tuesday by producers Big Beach, the production team behind “The Farewell” and “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.” Susanna Fogel, the co-writer of “Booksmart” and director of “The Spy Who Dumped Me,” is set to direct from a script by Kerry Howley. Howley is the author of an article in New York Magazine from 2017 called “Who is Reality Winner?” that also serves as the basis of the screenplay.
Reality Leigh Winner was a 25-year-old federal contractor employed at the Nsa in Georgia who in May 2017, was arrested and accused by the Justice Department of sending a classified...
The project, titled “Winner,” was announced on Tuesday by producers Big Beach, the production team behind “The Farewell” and “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.” Susanna Fogel, the co-writer of “Booksmart” and director of “The Spy Who Dumped Me,” is set to direct from a script by Kerry Howley. Howley is the author of an article in New York Magazine from 2017 called “Who is Reality Winner?” that also serves as the basis of the screenplay.
Reality Leigh Winner was a 25-year-old federal contractor employed at the Nsa in Georgia who in May 2017, was arrested and accused by the Justice Department of sending a classified...
- 12/3/2019
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
“Winner,” a biopic about the leaker of the Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election intelligence report, is in the works at Big Beach, with “Booksmart” co-writer Susanna Fogel on board to direct.
The film follows the real life story of Reality Leigh Winner, a former American intelligence specialist who was the first to expose Russia’s interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. She was arrested in 2017 and is currently serving a five-and-a-half year prison sentence. The script is written by Kerry Howley, who also wrote the 2017 New York Magazine article, “Who is Reality Winner?”
Dani Melia and Peter Saraf of Big Beach will produce alongside Amanda Phillips, who brought the project in.
“We are honored to be bringing Reality Winner’s story to screen from a beautiful screenplay by Kerry Howley,” said Melia. “We have been longtime fans of Susanna Fogel and can think of no one better to...
The film follows the real life story of Reality Leigh Winner, a former American intelligence specialist who was the first to expose Russia’s interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. She was arrested in 2017 and is currently serving a five-and-a-half year prison sentence. The script is written by Kerry Howley, who also wrote the 2017 New York Magazine article, “Who is Reality Winner?”
Dani Melia and Peter Saraf of Big Beach will produce alongside Amanda Phillips, who brought the project in.
“We are honored to be bringing Reality Winner’s story to screen from a beautiful screenplay by Kerry Howley,” said Melia. “We have been longtime fans of Susanna Fogel and can think of no one better to...
- 12/3/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
A movie about Russian interference into the 2016 U.S. presidential election is in the works from Big Beach, the production company behind awards contenders The Farewell and A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.
The Spy Who Dumped Me filmmaker Susanna Fogel will direct the drama Winner. The biopic will tell the real-life story of Reality Leigh Winner, a former American intelligence specialist who was the first to expose Russia's interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. She was arrested in 2017 and is currently serving a five-and-a-half year prison sentence.
The script was written by Kerry Howley, who also penned ...
The Spy Who Dumped Me filmmaker Susanna Fogel will direct the drama Winner. The biopic will tell the real-life story of Reality Leigh Winner, a former American intelligence specialist who was the first to expose Russia's interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. She was arrested in 2017 and is currently serving a five-and-a-half year prison sentence.
The script was written by Kerry Howley, who also penned ...
- 12/3/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
A movie about Russian interference into the 2016 U.S. presidential election is in the works from Big Beach, the production company behind awards contenders The Farewell and A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.
The Spy Who Dumped Me filmmaker Susanna Fogel will direct the drama Winner. The biopic will tell the real-life story of Reality Leigh Winner, a former American intelligence specialist who was the first to expose Russia's interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. She was arrested in 2017 and is currently serving a five-and-a-half year prison sentence.
The script was written by Kerry Howley, who also penned ...
The Spy Who Dumped Me filmmaker Susanna Fogel will direct the drama Winner. The biopic will tell the real-life story of Reality Leigh Winner, a former American intelligence specialist who was the first to expose Russia's interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. She was arrested in 2017 and is currently serving a five-and-a-half year prison sentence.
The script was written by Kerry Howley, who also penned ...
- 12/3/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
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