Official Secrets
Official Secrets

Official Secrets

2019Movie112 minEnglish

The true story of British intelligence whistleblower Katharine Gun who—prior to the 2003 Iraq invasion—leaked a top-secret NSA memo exposing a joint US-UK illegal spying operation against members of the UN Security Council. The memo proposed blackmailing member states into voting for war.

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Insights

IMDb6.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes70%
Metacritic65/100
Google Users84%
Director: Gavin HoodGenres: Biography, Drama, History, Thriller, War

Plot Summary

In 2003, British intelligence agent Katharine Gun receives a leaked memo detailing illegal spying operations by the NSA on members of the UN Security Council. The operation aims to pressure nations into voting for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Gun leaks the memo to the press, sparking a media frenzy and leading to her arrest and trial.

Critical Reception

Official Secrets received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its timely subject matter, Knightley's performance, and its portrayal of the ethical dilemmas faced by whistleblowers. Audiences also found the film compelling and relevant, though some noted its conventional narrative structure.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its intelligent and timely exploration of whistleblowing and government overreach.
  • Keira Knightley delivers a powerful and convincing performance as Katharine Gun.
  • While factually driven, the film effectively builds tension and emotional weight.

Google audience: Google users generally appreciated the film's engaging true story and Keira Knightley's strong lead performance. Many found it to be a thought-provoking and important film that highlights significant political events.

Fun Fact

The film is based on the true story of Katharine Gun, a translator for the British Secret Intelligence Service who leaked information about illegal spying activities by the NSA before the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

3 reviews
r96sk

r96sk

Engrossing! <em>'Official Secrets'</em> is terrific. How about that cast list? So many recognizable (or recognisable, for those using spell check...) faces appear throughout. Keira Knightley's performance is excellent, I am a fan of her ...
The Movie Diorama

The Movie Dioram...

Official Secrets leaks its thrills and political deceit through an accurate whistleblowing docudrama. Governments. A democratic selection of individuals to govern a nation with the public’s best interest taken into consideration. Providing ...
SWITCH.

SWITCH.

‘Official Secrets’ is an odd duck of a film. As much as it never quite finds its groove, it’s still an often thrilling and genuinely entertaining film, profiling an important figure in the movement against the Iraq War. Even after all this ...