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Actor Benedict
Cumberbatch didn't
get any help from Julian
Assange in his preparation
to play the founder of
WikiLeaks in the film
"The Fifth Estate," and
guesses Assange probably
won't like his portrayal, even
though the actor sees it as
celebration of the activist's achievements.
Cumberbatch said he didn't
have access to the polarising
figure behind the whistleblower
website after Assange "stated
very clearly at the beginning
of the project that he didn't
want to condone
the film."
"I am not a betting man, but I
imagine he won't particularly
want to support the film," the
37-year-old British actor told
reporters on Friday, the morning after the film opened the Toronto International Film Festival to
somewhat mixed reviews. Trade publication Variety called the film "stimulating but overly frenetic"
and Cumberbatch's performance "a somewhat one-dimensional turn," although it did praise his
ability to "capture Assange's slightly otherworldly air."
"The Fifth Estate" follows Assange as WikiLeaks racks up its first successes as a conduit for
whistleblowers from Africa to Iceland on the way to its biggest disclosure in 2010 of American
intelligence: war logs from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and thousands of diplomatic cables.
Assange's pursuit of transparency at all costs, potentially including the lives of government
informants named in the disclosures, alienates some of his most loyal supporters, including
his top lieutenant.
Despite Assange's rejection of the film, Cumberbatch believes "The Fifth Estate" recognises
"his idea and integrity and self-sacrifice" that yielded WikiLeaks' achievements between 2007
and 2010. "I think there's a lot to celebrate about his achievements," he said.
Cumberbatch said he was careful to not have a "thumbs up, thumbs down" approach to playing
Assange, who remains holed up in the Ecuadorean embassy in London, fighting extradition to
Sweden over accusations of rape and sexual assault. And the actor didn't want to speculate
about how Assange's situation would play out. "What I would like to see is the man able to
carry on doing his work as the founder of WikiLeaks, and due process has to take place in
whatever shape or form that happens," Cumberbatch said.
In addition to his lead role in the opening film, Cumberbatch has smaller roles in two of the
most anticipated movies opening at the Toronto Film Festival: slavery drama "12 Years a
Slave" debuting Friday and dysfunctional family drama "August: Osage County.
" Cumberbatch,
best known for his role as a contemporary Sherlock Holmes in the BBC television series
"Sherlock," has been called by organisers "the man of the festival," a label that he says
makes him feel uncomfortable. "Variety is very much a prerogative for me," the actor said
in his first showing at Toronto, a festival that can make a huge difference for a film's
ability to garner top
awards like the Oscars. "I am thrilled that three so different and extraordinary films that I am
involved with are showcasing at this festival."
Cumberbatch didn't
get any help from Julian
Assange in his preparation
to play the founder of
WikiLeaks in the film
"The Fifth Estate," and
guesses Assange probably
won't like his portrayal, even
though the actor sees it as
celebration of the activist's achievements.
Cumberbatch said he didn't
have access to the polarising
figure behind the whistleblower
website after Assange "stated
very clearly at the beginning
of the project that he didn't
want to condone
the film."
"I am not a betting man, but I
imagine he won't particularly
want to support the film," the
37-year-old British actor told
reporters on Friday, the morning after the film opened the Toronto International Film Festival to
somewhat mixed reviews. Trade publication Variety called the film "stimulating but overly frenetic"
and Cumberbatch's performance "a somewhat one-dimensional turn," although it did praise his
ability to "capture Assange's slightly otherworldly air."
"The Fifth Estate" follows Assange as WikiLeaks racks up its first successes as a conduit for
whistleblowers from Africa to Iceland on the way to its biggest disclosure in 2010 of American
intelligence: war logs from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and thousands of diplomatic cables.
Assange's pursuit of transparency at all costs, potentially including the lives of government
informants named in the disclosures, alienates some of his most loyal supporters, including
his top lieutenant.
Despite Assange's rejection of the film, Cumberbatch believes "The Fifth Estate" recognises
"his idea and integrity and self-sacrifice" that yielded WikiLeaks' achievements between 2007
and 2010. "I think there's a lot to celebrate about his achievements," he said.
Cumberbatch said he was careful to not have a "thumbs up, thumbs down" approach to playing
Assange, who remains holed up in the Ecuadorean embassy in London, fighting extradition to
Sweden over accusations of rape and sexual assault. And the actor didn't want to speculate
about how Assange's situation would play out. "What I would like to see is the man able to
carry on doing his work as the founder of WikiLeaks, and due process has to take place in
whatever shape or form that happens," Cumberbatch said.
In addition to his lead role in the opening film, Cumberbatch has smaller roles in two of the
most anticipated movies opening at the Toronto Film Festival: slavery drama "12 Years a
Slave" debuting Friday and dysfunctional family drama "August: Osage County.
" Cumberbatch,
best known for his role as a contemporary Sherlock Holmes in the BBC television series
"Sherlock," has been called by organisers "the man of the festival," a label that he says
makes him feel uncomfortable. "Variety is very much a prerogative for me," the actor said
in his first showing at Toronto, a festival that can make a huge difference for a film's
ability to garner top
awards like the Oscars. "I am thrilled that three so different and extraordinary films that I am
involved with are showcasing at this festival."
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