First “Snowden” trailer is tense and intense

Oliver Stone, the master of political drama is back after a hiatus, and with the help of Joseph Gordon-Levitt, is sending chills down the spines of viewers in the first trailer of “Snowden”. The oft-delayed film, about one of the biggest whistleblowers in recent history, has been in the production for two years, and the first teaser was released nearly a year ago. After being pushed back twice, the film is set for a September release, and by the looks of it, is going to have people talking. 

As it claims in the trailer, “Snowden” is based on true events, and follows Edward Snowden, the soldier-turned CIA agent-turned NSA operative, who released information about the NSA's surveillance programme that collected all sorts of data from all citizens without their notice, to the world. Joseph Gordon-Levitt brings out his method-acting best in the titular role, and doesn't just look like the real-life Edward Snowden, but has his voice and accents nailed down to fine details. He is also portrayed as a genius who rises through the ranks, but then has to go on the run as he leaks out classified documents from a secure facility, as the authorities go hell-bent on stopping him. 

Zachary Quinto plays Glenn Greenwald, the journalist Snowden first trusted with the information, and Shailene Woodley as his supportive girlfriend Lindsay Mills. Nicholas Cage is also seen in the trailer, as an angry government official. 

The film, co-written by Stone and Kieran Fitzgerald, based on the novels “The Snowden Files” by Luke Harding and “Time of the Octopus” by Anatoly Kucherena (Snowden's Russian lawyer), is set to his theatres September 16.