Reality (2023 film)

Reality is an 2023 American drama film, directed by Tina Satter from a screenplay by Satter and James Paul Dallas, adapted from the FBI interrogation transcript of American intelligence whistleblower Reality Winner, which Satter previously staged as the play Is This A Room.[4] It stars Sydney Sweeney as Winner, with Marchánt Davis and Josh Hamilton in supporting roles.

Reality
Official poster
Directed byTina Satter
Screenplay by
  • Tina Satter
  • James Paul Dallas
Based onIs This A Room
by Tina Satter
Produced by
  • Riva Marker
  • Noah Stahl
  • Brad Becker-Parton
  • Greg Nobile
Starring
CinematographyPaul Yee[1]
Edited by
  • Jennifer Vecchiarello[2]
  • Ron Dulin
Music byNathan Micay[3]
Production
companies
  • Seaview Productions
  • 2 SQ FT
  • In The Cut
  • Burn These Words
  • Fit Via Vi
  • Cinereach
Distributed byHBO Films
Release dates
  • February 18, 2023 (2023-02-18) (Berlinale)
  • May 29, 2023 (2023-05-29)
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Reality premiered at the 2023 Berlin International Film Festival on February 18, 2023. It is scheduled to be released on May 29, 2023, by HBO Films.

Cast

Production

Development

The film depicts the interrogation of whistleblower Reality Winner, which took place on the day of her arrest on June 3, 2017. Winner, a former enlisted US Air Force member and NSA translator, leaked an intelligence report about Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections to the news website The Intercept. Winner was confronted at her home in Augusta, Georgia by FBI agents R. Wallace Taylor and Justin C. Garrick, who interrogated her over the course of an hour in an unused room in the house.[5]

Tina Satter turned the interrogation transcript into the verbatim theatre performance Is This A Room (based on the quote "Is this a room? Is that a room?" spoken by one of the interrogators), which premiered at The Kitchen in 2019 before an extended Off-Broadway run at the Vineyard Theatre later that year. The production starred Emily Davis as Winner, with Pete Simpson and TL Thompson as the interrogators, and Becca Blackwell as "Unknown Male", a classification in the transcript for dialogue from multiple FBI agents who were inspecting Winner's house during the interrogation.[6][7] The play premiered on Broadway at the Lyceum Theatre on October 10, 2021, and closed on November 27, 2021.[8] Winner herself was not involved with the production during its initial Off-Broadway run due to her imprisonment, and was unable to see the Broadway production due to still being under house arrest, but spoke with the creative team extensively following her release from prison and video-called into the opening night performance's curtain call.[9]

In June 2022, it was announced that Is This A Room would be adapted into a film, with Sydney Sweeney, Marchánt Davis and Josh Hamilton starring and Satter directing in her film debut, from a screenplay she wrote alongside James Paul Davis.[10][11] In preparation for her role, Sweeney watched interviews and spoke with the real Winner over Zoom and text. Sweeney used these conversations to understand Winner's speaking mannerisms which she would mimic. Mindful of Winner's job as a yoga trainer and CrossFit instructor, Sweeney also trained to increase her muscle mass, in some cases using workouts Winner posted on her Instagram.[12] In addition to her conversations with Sweeney, Winner consulted with the wardrobe and art departments throughout the production process.[12]

Filming

Principal photography began in May 2022, over the course of 16 days.[13] Exterior filming was done at the start of production, with the final 9-10 days focused on filming inside the room set. The entire interrogation sequence was filmed in order, which Sweeney found unusual due to most productions she had worked on filming out of order.[12]

Release

The film received its world premiere at the 2023 Berlin International Film Festival on February 18, 2023.[14] Shortly after, HBO Films acquired distribution rights to the film.[15]

Reception
Sydney Sweeney at the "Once Upon A Time In Hollywood" premiere on July 22, 2019 in Hollywood, California.
Sydney Sweeney's performance has garnered widespread critical acclaim.[16][17][18][19][20]

Reality received positive reviews from critics at Berlinale, with praise aimed at Satter's direction as well as the cast performances (particularly Sweeney's).[21][22] On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a rare approval rating of 100%, based on 10 critic reviews with an average rating of 8.3/10.[23] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 88 out of 100, based on 11 reviews indicating "universal acclaim".[24]

David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter praised the transition from the minimalist set design of Is This A Room to the film's realistic recreation of Winner's house, noting "Satter shows unfaltering command of the medium for a first-time film director," highlighting the use of the closeup as a direct translation of the play's surreal storytelling.[25]

References
  1. "Reality". Paul Yee. Archived from the original on December 16, 2022. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  2. "Jennifer Vecchiarello" (PDF). The Gersh Agency. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 16, 2022. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  3. "Nathan Micay Scoring Tina Satter's 'Reality'". Film Music Reporter. January 7, 2023. Retrieved May 6, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. Meyer, Dan. "Sydney Sweeney to Star in IS THIS A ROOM Movie". Theatrely. Archived from the original on December 18, 2022. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
  5. Timm, Trevor (June 2, 2018). "Whatever You Think of the Trump-Russia Investigation, Whistleblower Reality Winner Deserves Your Support". The Intercept. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018.
  6. Millward, Tom. "Is This A Room extends limited run at Vineyard Theatre". New York Theatre Guide. Archived from the original on December 18, 2022. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
  7. Kraine, Daniel (February 18, 2020). "Tina Satter Unlocks the Drama of an FBI Transcript". Extended Play by The Civilians. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  8. Harms, Talaura. "Is This A Room and Dana H. Extend Broadway Runs". Playbill. Archived from the original on December 18, 2022. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
  9. Evans, Greg (November 9, 2021). "'Is This A Room' Q&A: Director Tina Satter On A Changing Broadway, Last-Minute Reprieves & Hoping For A Visit From Reality Winner". Deadline. Archived from the original on January 20, 2022. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  10. D'Alessandro, Anthony (June 8, 2022). "Sydney Sweeney & Marchánt Davis Lead Tina Satter's Whistleblower Feature About Reality Winner". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 10, 2022. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  11. Brunnerq, Raven. "Is This A Room-Inspired Movie Adaptation in the Works". Playbill. Archived from the original on December 18, 2022. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  12. Roxborough, Scott (February 16, 2023). "Berlin: Sydney Sweeney on Becoming NSA Whistleblower Reality Winner for Docu-Fiction 'Reality'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 17, 2023. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  13. Sweeney, Sydney (December 15, 2022). "first look at our film "Reality" the American whistle blower directed by Tina Satter. back in may @jhamilton @marchantdavis and I shot for 16 grueling days, one room, and our words taken directly from the fbi transcript. so excited our film will be premiering at @berlinale, can't wait to share more :)". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 16, 2022. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  14. Roxborough, Scott (December 15, 2022). "Berlin Fest Unveils First 2023 Panorama and Generation Titles". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on December 15, 2022. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  15. Fleming, Mike Jr. (February 24, 2023). "HBO Acquires Berlin Fest Buzz Title 'Reality;' Breakout For Its 'Euphoria' Star Sydney Sweeney As Leaker Reality Winner In Tina Satter-Helmed Docudrama". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 25, 2023. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  16. Rooney, David (February 18, 2023). "'Reality' Review: Sydney Sweeney Is Devastating as Reality Winner in Taut Thriller Shaped from FBI Transcript". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 21, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  17. Oddo, Marco Vito (February 20, 2023). "'Reality' Review: Sydney Sweeney Gives Her Best Performance Yet in Masterful and Tense True Story". Collider. Archived from the original on February 22, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  18. Bramesco, Charles (February 18, 2023). "'Reality' Review: Sydney Sweeney Delivers A Tour De Force As A Cornered Whistleblower". The Playlist. Archived from the original on February 18, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  19. Green, Steph (February 18, 2023). "'Reality' Review: Sydney Sweeney Stuns in Fact-Based Single-Room Whistleblower Thriller". IndieWire. Archived from the original on February 21, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  20. Kiang, Jessica (February 18, 2023). "'Reality' Review: Sydney Sweeney Is Outstanding as Whistleblower Reality Winner in a Clever, Gripping Docudrama". Variety. Archived from the original on February 21, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  21. Heath, Paul. "'Reality' review [Berlinale 2023]". The Hollywood News. Archived from the original on February 19, 2023. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  22. Saito, Stephen (February 18, 2023). "Berlinale 2023 Review: "Reality" Reconsiders What's a Danger to the Public". The Moveable Fest. Archived from the original on February 19, 2023. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  23. "Reality". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on February 24, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  24. "Reality". Metacritic. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  25. Rooney, David (February 18, 2023). "'Reality' Review: Sydney Sweeney Is Devastating as Reality Winner in Taut Thriller Shaped from FBI Transcript". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.