The movie from Open Road Films stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt as former NSA employee Edward Snowden, who exposed major government surveillance programs while working with journalists Glenn Greenwald (Zachary Quinto in the film) and Laura Poitras (Melissa Leo). It tells the story of Snowden’s initial leaks to the journalists in a Hong Kong hotel room and the fallout that resulted in his involuntary exile in Russia.
In his answers, Stone waxed on everything from Wall Street — the movie and the industry — to the benefits of encrypted communication to his marijuana use, but here are five big takeaways from his AMA:
Snowden told him the secret codes used by intelligence analysts
Stone was asked about what fascinated him the most during his research for the film, to which he replied:
“Getting to know the texture of this secret world, the way they talk to each other. The codes they use. Mr. Snowden described for us the sets, the design, as close to realistic detail as he could. And also the knowledge of Lindsay Mills’ importance in his life.”
“W.” wasn’t Stone’s first film about a president — he also directed the 1991 thriller “JFK,” about an alleged conspiracy and coverup relating to John F. Kennedy’s assassination in 1963. Stone said he accepted the party line on the president’s shooting death in Dallas until he started investigating on his own:
“I was a person who didn’t question the Warren Commission in those years, until I read Jim Garrison’s second book and started meeting with many people who had studied this. There was an entire community of first and second generation researchers, who tore apart the Warren Commission.”
When asked who he’d most like to interview, Stone responded thusly:
“I think I’d like to interview about two dozen people inside our secret government, and find out what’s really going on.”
He said the studio system doesn’t support movies that go against the official story, like “Snowden” and Stone’s long-planned My Lai massacre film “Pinkville,” which hasn’t yet found a home
“Snowden was made by Europeans with a smaller distributer [sic] in America, Open Road, who did a brave job. In this era, it has become increasingly difficult to criticize or descent [sic] from our country’s well-known policies of ‘with us or against us.'”
The Evolution of Joseph Gordon-Levitt: From Child Actor to 'Snowden' Star (Photos)
1991: Joseph Gordon-Levitt booked a number of roles as a child actor, including guest spots on "Family Ties" and "Murder She Wrote," but his first starring role was on ABC's revival of '60s gothic soap opera, "Dark Shadows." The show, on which JGL played David Collins, only lasted one season.
1994: In "Angels in the Outfield," JGL played an adorable foster child who prayed to God that the California Angels win the pennant so he can have a family again. God answered by sending a pack of angels, led by Christopher Lloyd, to help out the struggling ball club.
1996: JGL began an unforgettable turn as the oldest of four alien visitors scouting out planet Earth disguised as humans (although oldest, JGL's character was disguised as a teenager) in the hit NBC sitcom, "3rd Rock From the Sun." The show lasted six seasons, and ended its run in 2001.
1999: JGL starred opposite Heath Ledger in the Shakespeare-inspired teen comedy "10 Things I Hate About You."
2001: JGL began shedding his squeaky clean sitcom star image by playing a violent and emotionally unstable juvenile delinquent in "Manic," an independent drama co-starring Don Cheadle and his future onscreen love interest, Zooey Deschanel.
2004: JGL continued to receive indie acclaim by playing a reckless male prostitute who was molested by his Little League baseball coach in "Mysterious Skin."
2005: JGL left a lasting impression on viewers as a young, hard-boiled detective in writer-director Rian Johnson's high school noir "Brick."
2007: JGL continued maturing in front of our eyes in another modern noir, "The Lookout," in which he played a forgetful bank janitor with a brain injury who gets lured into aiding and abetting a group of bank robbers.
2008: JGL brought emotional intensity to Kimberly Peirce's "Stop-Loss" as a suicidal Iraq war veteran dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder.
2009: JGL starred in yet another indie, which allowed the rising actor to demonstrate his romantic lead chops. In director Marc Webb's breakout comedy "(500) Days of Summer," JGL played a Los Angeles 20-something who fell in love with a woman (Zooey Deschanel) who doesn't believe in love. He earned a Golden Globe Nomination for Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical.
2009: JGL went mainstream by playing Cobra Commander opposite Channing Tatum as Duke in Paramount's "G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra." The $175 million action movie made enough money to warrant a sequel, but JGL did not return to reprise the role.
2010: JGL went punk rock for the indie drama "Hesher," which co-star Natalie Portman helped produce.
2010: JGL officially became a movie star after taking on the dapper role of Leonardo DiCaprio's best-dressed partner in Christopher Nolan's sci-fi action blockbuster "Inception."
2011: JGL stepped back into comedy by playing a cancer patient alongside Seth Rogen in the dramedy "50/50." The performance earned the actor his second Golden Globe nomination and cemented his ability to play a broad range of roles.
2012: JGL took his career to the next level by helping Christian Bale's Bruce Wayne take on Bane in "Dark Knight Rises," director Christopher Nolan's conclusion to his blockbuster Batman trilogy.
2012: JGL reunited with "Brick" director Rian Johnson to play a younger version of Bruce Willis in the time-travel action thriller "Looper."
2013: JGL added writer and director to his résumé with the release of "Don Jon," a drama about a Jersey boy who must choose between his love of pornography and the love of his life (Scarlett Johansson). The rom-com premiered to rave reviews at the Sundance.
2014: In "Sin City: A Dame to Kill For," JGL played a cocky young gambler who runs afoul of a powerful senator (Powers Booth) who turns out to be his dad.
2014: JGL won an Emmy for "HitRECord on TV," a Pivot anthology series adapted from his online venture for short vilms and video projects.
2015: In Robert Zemeckis' "The Walk," JGL played real-life daredevil Philippe Petit, who crossed between the Twin Towers of NYC's World Trade Center n 1974 on a tightrope.
2016: JGL took on another fact-based role in Oliver Stone's "Snowden," about the notorious whistleblower who leaked classified National Security Agency documents and then fled the U.S.
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JGL has had a spectacular rise to the top of his craft, and doesn’t appear to be slowing down any time soon
