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The Report (2019) movie poster

Characters & Themes

The Report (2019) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language: 2019 · 119 min · English; Echo score 67; #9,777 7
Directed by: Scott Z. Burns
Starring: Adam Driver, Corey Stoll, Annette Bening, Jon Hamm, Michael C. Hall, Victor Slezak
Budget: $8M

Following the September 11th attacks, idealistic investigator Daniel J. Jones undertakes a sensitive inquiry into the CIA’s Detention and Interrogation Program. His relentless pursuit of the truth uncovers disturbing evidence, including the destruction of records and attempts to obstruct justice. The investigation reveals a concealed program and its implications for the nation, prompting a difficult confrontation with the agency and government oversight.

Biography Drama History Thriller Crime Cast, crew & box office

On this page (8)

1 Where to watch
2 Characters explained (4)
3 Where & when it takes place
4 Themes & meaning (2)
5 Character & meaning questions
6 Movie threads
7 Movies like The Report
8 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch The Report (2019)

Where can you watch The Report? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon MX Player and Amazon Prime Video Free: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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4 main characters · contains spoilers

The Report Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of The Report (2019), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

Daniel Jones (Adam Driver)

Daniel Jones is a dedicated Senate staffer tasked with a monumental investigation into the CIA's controversial interrogation practices. His integrity and determination drive the narrative, as he confronts bureaucratic obstacles and moral dilemmas. Through his journey, Jones embodies the struggle for truth in a system fraught with challenges.
- 🕵️ Investigative
- 📜 Tenacious
- ⚖️ Ethical
Senator Dianne Feinstein (Annette Bening)

Senator Feinstein is a pivotal figure in the push for transparency regarding the CIA's enhanced interrogation techniques. Her unwavering support for Daniel Jones and his investigation reflects her commitment to accountability. She navigates political pressures while advocating for justice and human rights, making her a crucial ally in the narrative.
- 👩‍⚖️ Leadership
- 📢 Advocacy
- 🎭 Political
Bernadette (Maura Tierney)

Bernadette is a CIA employee who finds herself caught between the agency's directives and the moral implications of enhanced interrogation. Her perspective showcases the internal conflict faced by those involved in intelligence operations, adding depth to the portrayal of the agency's culture during this period.
- 🔍 Ethical Conflict
- 🤔 Contemplative
- 🚨 Intelligence
Raymond Nathan (Michael C. Hall)

As a physician assistant, Raymond Nathan provides crucial insights into the medical ethics surrounding enhanced interrogation. He stands as a voice of dissent within the CIA, articulating the moral hazards of classifying torture as legal. His character highlights the complexities and moral debates present within intelligence operations.
- 🩺 Medical Ethics
- ⚠️ Dissent
- 🎭 Complicated

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:35

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Setting

Where and When Does The Report Take Place?

The setting of The Report (2019): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

2001-2014

The narrative unfolds during a tumultuous period marked by significant events such as the 9/11 attacks and the subsequent War on Terror. It highlights the challenges and implications of U.S. counterterrorism strategies in the aftermath of these attacks. The story also reflects a critical time for intelligence agencies, as they navigate legal and ethical dilemmas surrounding enhanced interrogation techniques.

Location

CIA Headquarters, Virginia

The film's primary location is a highly secure compartmented information facility set up by the CIA in Virginia. Known for its secrecy, this facility is where sensitive intelligence operations are processed and analyzed. The events outside this secure location, particularly the September 11 attacks, serve as a backdrop that profoundly impacts the actions and decisions made within.

🏢 Intelligence
🌐 Covert Operations

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:35

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2 major themes

The Report Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is The Report (2019) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

Justice and Accountability

The film explores the struggles faced by Daniel Jones and his team as they seek to hold the CIA accountable for its use of enhanced interrogation techniques. It raises vital questions about morality, government transparency, and the pursuit of justice in the face of political pressure and institutional resistance. The theme resonates strongly as the narrative reveals the cost of truth in the pursuit of accountability.
Truth and Whistleblowing

As Daniel Jones uncovers disturbing evidence of torture and misconduct, the film delves into the complexities of whistleblowing. It portrays the personal and professional risks associated with exposing the truth against powerful institutions. The theme underscores the importance of integrity and transparency in governance, especially in matters of national security.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:35

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Character & theme questions

The Report Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about The Report (2019): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is The Report set?

The film primarily takes place at a CIA compartmented information facility in Virginia, a highly secure location where sensitive intelligence operations are processed. The story also references Washington D.C. political settings where the Senate investigation takes place.

cia facility virginia
setting
location
intelligence agency

Q2

What time period does The Report cover?

The movie spans from 2001 to 2014, beginning with the aftermath of the September 11 attacks and following the CIA's Detention and Interrogation Program through the subsequent War on Terror era.

2001-2014
post-9/11
war on terror
time period
era

Q3

What is the main theme of The Report?

The Report centers on justice and accountability, exploring the struggle to hold the CIA responsible for its enhanced interrogation techniques. The film examines the moral complexities and institutional resistance faced by investigators seeking transparency and ethical governance.

justice
accountability
cia interrogation
themes
morality

Q4

How does The Report handle whistleblowing?

The film portrays whistleblowing as a dangerous endeavor, showing the personal and professional risks Daniel Jones faces in exposing the truth about CIA torture programs. It emphasizes the tension between institutional loyalty and moral integrity.

whistleblowing
truth
transparency
daniel jones
cia

Q5

Who is Daniel Jones in The Report?

Daniel Jones is a Senate staffer tasked with investigating the CIA's enhanced interrogation program. Played by Adam Driver, he represents a determined investigator who confronts bureaucratic obstacles and political pressure in pursuit of truth and accountability.

daniel jones
adam driver
senate staffer
investigator
protagonist

Q6

What role does Senator Feinstein play?

Senator Dianne Feinstein, played by Annette Bening, serves as a key ally in pushing for transparency about CIA practices. She supports Jones's investigation and navigates political pressures while advocating for accountability and human rights.

dianne feinstein
senator
annette bening
congress
oversight

Q7

Who is Bernadette in The Report?

Bernadette, played by Maura Tierney, is a CIA employee who grapples with the moral implications of the agency's directives. Her perspective illustrates the internal conflict faced by intelligence workers during the interrogation program.

bernadette
maura tierney
cia employee
intelligence
morality

Q8

What is Raymond Nathan's significance?

Raymond Nathan, portrayed by Michael C. Hall, is a physician assistant who becomes a voice of dissent within the CIA regarding medical ethics. He articulates the moral hazards of classifying enhanced interrogation as legal, highlighting the ethical debates within intelligence operations.

raymond nathan
michael c. hall
physician
medical ethics
dissent

Q9

What was the CIA's Detention and Interrogation Program?

The program was a covert CIA initiative established after 9/11 involving enhanced interrogation techniques on detainees. The Report examines the ethical and legal controversies surrounding these practices, including torture and the destruction of related records.

cia program
detention
interrogation
torture
enhanced interrogation

Q10

How does The Report address government transparency?

The film highlights the tension between national security and government transparency, showing how the CIA obstructed justice by destroying records. It examines the ethical dilemmas faced by government employees when confronting institutional wrongdoing.

transparency
government
ethics
obstruction
oversight
congress

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Report, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes The Report tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Investigative Slow Burns like The Report

Methodical procedurals where uncovering the truth is a battle against institutions. If you liked The Report's methodical unraveling of a government cover-up, you'll appreciate these movies. This list features similar procedural dramas and political thrillers where dedicated investigators fight systemic obstruction to expose the truth.

methodical
tense
frustrating
urgent
determined
bureaucratic
Tone: tense, grim, determined
Pacing: steady, methodical

Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread typically follow a protagonist, often an investigator or journalist, who doggedly pursues a complex truth. The narrative unfolds through research, interviews, and data analysis, building tension through institutional resistance, redactions, and threats rather than physical action.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared focus on a procedural investigation, a tense atmosphere created by systemic opposition, and a pacing that is steady and deliberate, allowing the weight of the uncovered facts to accumulate.

All the President's Men movie poster

All the President's Men

1976

The Report movie poster

The Report

2019

Hidden Agenda movie poster

Hidden Agenda

1990

An Officer and a Spy movie poster

An Officer and a Spy

2025

Nothing But the Truth movie poster

Nothing But the Truth

2008

Defence of the Realm movie poster

Defence of the Realm

1985

Two Prosecutors movie poster

Two Prosecutors

2025

Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion [re-release] movie poster

Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion [re-release]

2003

Bittersweet Truths and Moral Reckonings like The Report

Stories where pursuing justice yields a hollow victory against systemic failure. For viewers who appreciated the heavy emotional weight and bittersweet conclusion of The Report. These movies explore similar themes of truth, accountability, and the difficult confrontation with power, often ending with a mix of accomplishment and sobering reality.

morally challenging
grim
bittersweet
heavy
frustrating
sobering
Tone: morally challenging, grim, bittersweet
Pacing: steady, character-driven

Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a protagonist taking on a morally significant challenge against great odds. The journey is emotionally taxing, and the climax delivers a form of success—often the revelation of truth—but the ending underscores the limitations of that victory, leaving a feeling of sober reflection rather than pure triumph.

Why they belong together: These films are connected by their heavy emotional weight, their focus on ethically challenging subject matter, and their distinctive bittersweet endings that balance a sense of accomplishment with the sobering reality of systemic or personal limitations.

Truth movie poster

Truth

2015

Character movie poster

Character

1997

Bemisal movie poster

Bemisal

1982

So B. It movie poster

So B. It

2017

The Sense of an Ending movie poster

The Sense of an Ending

2017

All Is Forgiven (2007) movie poster

All Is Forgiven (2007)

2021

Look Both Ways movie poster

Look Both Ways

2006

All Summers End movie poster

All Summers End

2018

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Movies Like The Report

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Taxi to the Dark Side movie poster

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(T)error movie poster

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The Stanford Prison Experiment movie poster

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Nothing But the Truth movie poster

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2003

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All Governments Lie: Truth, Deception, and the Spirit of I.F. Stone

2016

Full Disclosure movie poster

Full Disclosure

2001

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Cover-Up movie poster

Cover-Up

1991

Every angle

The Report (2019) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about The Report in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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