This film says too much and shows too little. It's political message is confused between central rationalism of the Washington press and the main character to the point where it's bordering on hypocritical. Her narrative is one pointed towards the ultimate good, an ultimate good which is presented as in conflict with democracy. Whilst the film does well to question the viewer in whether they believe in democracy even when an alternative leader will indisputably be better than those democratically elected, it does nothing to justify democracy as good. Both leads are good, Cox is magnetic as usual, the other main characters provide decent foil though lack substance themselves to the extent that they are forgettable entirely once finished watching. It's plot is formulaic with little to no unpredictability. It fulfils its basic objective of being a film and making sense. It offers little more than that, contributes nothing artistically and asks half baked questions.
17 Reviews
Passable but light, corner-cutting, transparent & tame political drama that's far from best in genre
danieljfarthing5 November 2022
In director Amy Rice's political drama "The Independent" republican Ann Dowd & independent John Cena are locked tight in a US presidential election race... but might journoes Jodi Turner-Smith (excellent) & Brian Cox be about to blow it up by exposing a major campaign financing scandal? It's clearly intended to match the likes of "The Ides Of March", "All The President's Men", "The Ghost Writer" or "The Front Runner" but Evan Parter's debut screenplay is too lightweight, corner-cutting, transparent & tame for it to be in that league (campaign financing... really tho?!). It's passable mid-term election time viewing... but there are FAR better genre examples.
All the President's Men Wannabe Film
lavatch5 February 2023
Warning: Spoilers
At a time when journalistic integrity and the pursuit of the truth in the media have reached a nadir, "The Independent" sought to recover some of the nostalgia for decent news reporting.
The structure of the film took on the approach of "All The President's Men" in the hustle of two investigative reporters to get to the heart of political corruption that impacts the future of the nation.
Unfortunately, the filmmakers got mired in a sob story about how a presidential candidate currently leading in the polls co-opted a national lottery to embezzle millions and took away funds earmarked for poor elementary school children in West Virginia.
There were good performances from Brian Cox and Jodie Turner-Smith as the two determined reporters seeking to expose the corruption of the presidential front runner, Nate Sterling. Cox plays the grizzled veteran journalist while Turner-Smith is the tyro reporter cleverly getting to the bottom of the story.
A major shortcoming of the film was that all three presidential candidates were lackluster and not believable. It was not convincing at all that Sterling would be able to implement his policy "Country Over Party" in light of the political realities of the Washington establishment. The fact that he had to resort to an embezzlement scheme to float his campaign says it all about his capabilities as a leader.
While there was decent dramatic tension and an interesting set of characters, the subplot of the young journalist's family, wherein her father was also a journalist, was inadvertently the most moving and memorable part of the film.
The structure of the film took on the approach of "All The President's Men" in the hustle of two investigative reporters to get to the heart of political corruption that impacts the future of the nation.
Unfortunately, the filmmakers got mired in a sob story about how a presidential candidate currently leading in the polls co-opted a national lottery to embezzle millions and took away funds earmarked for poor elementary school children in West Virginia.
There were good performances from Brian Cox and Jodie Turner-Smith as the two determined reporters seeking to expose the corruption of the presidential front runner, Nate Sterling. Cox plays the grizzled veteran journalist while Turner-Smith is the tyro reporter cleverly getting to the bottom of the story.
A major shortcoming of the film was that all three presidential candidates were lackluster and not believable. It was not convincing at all that Sterling would be able to implement his policy "Country Over Party" in light of the political realities of the Washington establishment. The fact that he had to resort to an embezzlement scheme to float his campaign says it all about his capabilities as a leader.
While there was decent dramatic tension and an interesting set of characters, the subplot of the young journalist's family, wherein her father was also a journalist, was inadvertently the most moving and memorable part of the film.
A Lifetime style movie on steroids
r-garton-91322 December 2022
A good movie thriller. Not a nail-biter, but good. Taking "All The President's Men" into a 2024 theme, the film again takes newspaper snooping and finds a snake. This time, the Republican party. The acting and production values leads you to believe your watching one of those fast turnaround Lifetime movies but it is a bit more refined. While picking on the Republicans, the film really does not make a political statement. This film is watchable but you need some open mind to tolerate it. It reminds us that Gen X is the future and old suiters are on the way out. It tells us that politics is and always will be untrustworthy and those with the most toys will try to win. Money buys power and power means well power. The Independent keeps you interested if you can overlook some bad acting, a few plotholes, and perhaps some far reaching theories that make you go "Really?"
Follow the facts where ever they lead
nogodnomasters14 November 2022
Warning: Spoilers
This is a fictional account of the upcoming 2024 election. The setting borrows from our current state of affairs. The nation is in a recession and post pandemic. One party promotes rage while the whines about it and nothing gets done. Nate Sterling (John Cena) is an Olympic gold medalist who has written a common sense manifesto. He is running as a major third party candidate against the sitting Democrat and a woman Republican senator from Tennessee (Ann Dowd pretending to be Kathy Bates). At the Washington Chronicle (looks like the Post in "All the President's Men"), newbie Elisha James (Jodie Turner-Smith) is working with senior writer and columnist Nicolas Booker ( Brian Cox) covering the campaigns. Elisha suspects the Republican may be moving funds from the Lotto to their own campaign, robbing schools of funding. Elsiha's boyfriend (Luke Kirby) works for Nate Sterling and there is too much pillow talk going on.
This was a nice paced film and a good political drama reminding me too much of real political drama. The "Country over Politics" political sign sounds like the Lincoln Foundation.
Guide: F-word. No sex or nudity.
This was a nice paced film and a good political drama reminding me too much of real political drama. The "Country over Politics" political sign sounds like the Lincoln Foundation.
Guide: F-word. No sex or nudity.
Unbelievable
anthony-196364 March 2023
The film manages to build slowly but every key event and dialogue is rushed. Totally lacking credibility. Dialogue and scrip are atrocious. By the end you could not care less about any character, strangely all dislikeable, just delight the movie finished. This film does not manage even to be another passe politcal thriller. It feels like a bad B movie.
Rest assured it has nothing to say on politics or current events. John Cena as presidential candidate Sterling is a particular hard to watch. Too long in the gym, not long enough in acting school I would suggest. Jodie Turner-Smith could also work on her likeability factor. Very one dimensional. Avoid.
Rest assured it has nothing to say on politics or current events. John Cena as presidential candidate Sterling is a particular hard to watch. Too long in the gym, not long enough in acting school I would suggest. Jodie Turner-Smith could also work on her likeability factor. Very one dimensional. Avoid.
Nearly very good.
spfrbb27 February 2023
I really enjoyed 90% of the movie. It had some powerful acting and an interesting storyline. However, John Cena should never have been cast. I like the guy and think he's incredibly talented in what he's good at but for this part it's a resounding no. The female candidate was also a bit iffy which is a shame to the rest of an outstanding ensemble. It's movies like this that make me really frustrated. It must be clear to the director, other actors, producers, post production etc. That it didn't work but they went ahead with it anyway. When a company knows talent like Jodie Turner-Smith and Brian Cox, how can they accept second rate performances from others? Either do it right or not at all.
A big disappointment.
Sleepin_Dragon3 March 2023
Talented young Journalist Eli James uncovers an Earth shattering truth about
For a so called thriller, this really did lack one element, thrills. From the outset it seemed as though it was going to be a slick, fast paced thriller full of subterfuge and intrigue, sadly it was just boring.
I wasn't keen on the production of this film, it looked and felt a little cheap, like a made for TV thriller that ends up showing on a Sunday afternoon slot some time in April.
I stuck it out until the end, hoping for it to get better, and wanting it to get better, personally I think it flatlined quite early on, and never sparked into anything.
Brian Cox has always been a good actor, and he did a good job, albeit within the confines of the script. If I'm honest, I watched this primarily because I wanted to see how good Jodie Turner Smith was following on from the ill fated Anne Boleyn series. I thought Jodie was ok, again hampered by the average script.
4/10.
For a so called thriller, this really did lack one element, thrills. From the outset it seemed as though it was going to be a slick, fast paced thriller full of subterfuge and intrigue, sadly it was just boring.
I wasn't keen on the production of this film, it looked and felt a little cheap, like a made for TV thriller that ends up showing on a Sunday afternoon slot some time in April.
I stuck it out until the end, hoping for it to get better, and wanting it to get better, personally I think it flatlined quite early on, and never sparked into anything.
Brian Cox has always been a good actor, and he did a good job, albeit within the confines of the script. If I'm honest, I watched this primarily because I wanted to see how good Jodie Turner Smith was following on from the ill fated Anne Boleyn series. I thought Jodie was ok, again hampered by the average script.
4/10.
Nothing groundbreaking, but has its highlights
cardsrock10 November 2022
I'm a bit shocked to see a film with some major actors go this under the radar, but here we are. I mostly enjoyed this film. Yes, it rehashes a lot of political thriller tropes, however it updates some for the time. Brian Cox remains an absolute powerhouse of a performer and the film excels when he is on screen. The rest of cast does a fine job and I don't understand the criticism of Cena. He showed on Peacemaker that he has dramatic chops and I thought he did well for what the role asked of him. The story isn't too original, but it remains reasonably compelling until the end. For a direct to Peacock film, I was pleasantly surprised.
Paint-by-numbers political thriller
Chromium5210 April 2023
A driven young journalist digs into an important but mundane matter of underfunded school budgets and finds herself with the corruption scoop of the decade, going right to the heart of the presidential election campaign. Do not worry, I have not spoiled the film. This is all within the first ten or so minutes.
What plays out after is, unfortunately, not the tight, high-stakes, intelligent journalism thriller one might have expected from someone who spent significant time with an inside view of the political world during the Obama campaign, but a sleepy, phoned-in drama where critical plot points come about by people making obvious and out-of-character mistakes, not because they follow from the events or character psychology, but because the plot needs specific things to happen. After a promising start with appearances from actors with an excellent track record in the genre, the film dozes off into half sleep.
Brian Cox does what he can with a character that never gets much development beyond the cliché of the jaded old hand with rough edges (with a signature order of a steak cooked not just rare, but bloody) who grudgingly becomes the mentor of the plucky young talent. Timothy Busfield is wasted in a minor role with very little screen time.
The shining exception is Jodie Turner-Smith in the lead role, who manages to infuse her character with a lot more complexity than the manuscript provides for. Her Eli is simultaneously a hungry and intelligent young journalist with a reckless streak, and green, a little out of her depth, and believably vulnerable. It is just a shame she is stuck in a film that does not repay her efforts.
In the end, The Independent becomes a sleepy and forgettable repetition of plot ideas we have seen before and a reminder that we live in a political climate where truth is once more much stranger than fiction.
What plays out after is, unfortunately, not the tight, high-stakes, intelligent journalism thriller one might have expected from someone who spent significant time with an inside view of the political world during the Obama campaign, but a sleepy, phoned-in drama where critical plot points come about by people making obvious and out-of-character mistakes, not because they follow from the events or character psychology, but because the plot needs specific things to happen. After a promising start with appearances from actors with an excellent track record in the genre, the film dozes off into half sleep.
Brian Cox does what he can with a character that never gets much development beyond the cliché of the jaded old hand with rough edges (with a signature order of a steak cooked not just rare, but bloody) who grudgingly becomes the mentor of the plucky young talent. Timothy Busfield is wasted in a minor role with very little screen time.
The shining exception is Jodie Turner-Smith in the lead role, who manages to infuse her character with a lot more complexity than the manuscript provides for. Her Eli is simultaneously a hungry and intelligent young journalist with a reckless streak, and green, a little out of her depth, and believably vulnerable. It is just a shame she is stuck in a film that does not repay her efforts.
In the end, The Independent becomes a sleepy and forgettable repetition of plot ideas we have seen before and a reminder that we live in a political climate where truth is once more much stranger than fiction.
Better than the 5.4 IMDB rating by far
yoyo_hamblen10 December 2022
I was struck with how well this movie opened with a great writing sequence. I guess I related to a marginalised character both for being a woman and black stood who up for herself very professionally against a clearly biased boss.
I loved how this was written and how Brian Cox came in and added some credibility with his always awesome acting.
The story was current and relevant and not at all predictable which really is quite hard to do these days.
I like these kind of movies though and I think if you like political dramas and thrillers this will just appeal.
So much makes sense here and it's believable that this amount of corruption leads to real presidents being elected.
Great casting all round. The likes the way this movie just grabbed my attention, for every minute. Very engaging.
I loved how this was written and how Brian Cox came in and added some credibility with his always awesome acting.
The story was current and relevant and not at all predictable which really is quite hard to do these days.
I like these kind of movies though and I think if you like political dramas and thrillers this will just appeal.
So much makes sense here and it's believable that this amount of corruption leads to real presidents being elected.
Great casting all round. The likes the way this movie just grabbed my attention, for every minute. Very engaging.
Solid, fun little political thriller
BongoJustice1 June 2023
Not sure why this is getting so much hate in the reviews on here. It's a clever little political thriller with enough twists to keep you interested. It's well acted - Brian Cox is always great and John Cena shows yet another side to his expanding acting range - he's just getting better and better with everything he's in. (Not sure Peacemaker can be topped for sheer brilliance though).
Jodie Turner Smith starts off a little wooden but grows into the role as the film goes on, though this may well simply be the journey that her character is on, growing in knowledge and confidence over the course of the film.
An enjoyable and diverting movie, great stuff.
Jodie Turner Smith starts off a little wooden but grows into the role as the film goes on, though this may well simply be the journey that her character is on, growing in knowledge and confidence over the course of the film.
An enjoyable and diverting movie, great stuff.
Boy does John Cena stink up this movie
hosenoggin12 February 2023
I'm not even eight minutes into this movie, and they've given John Cena some kind of soliloquy as a presidential candidate. His smirky face and is absolutely horrible delivery of lines makes me want to turn this movie off right away. John Cena is a horrible actor.
He's actually good in the wrestling ring when he delivers what they call "promos" in the wrestling world. He has passion, grit, and what he calls "ruthless aggression:. It makes for good TV and good face against heel tension. But as an actor in any movie I've seen him in, it's been a disaster. He's not even good at action movies. The only movie I ever liked him in was Amy's Schumer's Trainwreck. That's because Judd Apatow cast him correctly for comic relief of an empty headed muscleman.
He's actually good in the wrestling ring when he delivers what they call "promos" in the wrestling world. He has passion, grit, and what he calls "ruthless aggression:. It makes for good TV and good face against heel tension. But as an actor in any movie I've seen him in, it's been a disaster. He's not even good at action movies. The only movie I ever liked him in was Amy's Schumer's Trainwreck. That's because Judd Apatow cast him correctly for comic relief of an empty headed muscleman.
Despite a timely release and subject matter, the Independent is a very middle of the road thriller without much to say
IonicBreezeMachine2 November 2022
Set in the months leading up to the 2024 United States presidential election, Olympic Gold Medalist Nate Sterling (John Cena) against all odds has become a viable candidate running as an Independent against the two political parties. At newspaper The Washington Chronicle, reporter Elisha "Eli" James (Jodie Turner-Smith) is researching a dip in lotto jackpots despite jackpots typically increasing during a recession. As Eli looks further into the anomaly, she finds connections in the accounting of the corporation managing the lottery with a super PAC working on behalf of Republican Senator and presidential hopeful Patricia Turnbull (Ann Dowd). Eli teams up with veteran columnist Nick Booker (Brian Cox) and the two set out to uncover a far-reaching conspiracy.
The Independent is a political thriller written by Evan Parter, and the feature directing debut of Amy Rice who'd previously served as a staff writer on Aaron Sorkin's The Newsroom and has some experiencing operating in the political arena having co-directed the 2009 documentary By the People: The Election of Barack Obama. Parter's script appeared on the 2013 Blacklist of best unproduced screenplays, but it wasn't until 2020 when the film was announced with Amy Rice directing and Kumali Najiani slated to play the lead until he dropped out with Jodie Turner-Smith taking over. Now dropping on Peacock a week before election night in the United States, I'm unfortunately disappointed to say despite proven talent on and behind the camera, The Independent is rather safe and ordinary.
To start off on a good note, the movie is well made with Amy Rice's direction eliciting some solid thrills and performances from her cast. Jodie Turner-Smith is solid as journalist Eli even if the script does occasionally call for her to make some pretty boneheaded decisions at points in the story. Brian Cox is also good as Eli's mentor/partner Nick Booker whose very much an old school journalist in both integrity and ethics and he's established as being something of a "man out of time" with how he plans to soon retire and he's quite good in the role. The biggest surprise however was in John Cena playing political candidate Nate Sterling and despite Cena more known for action oriented or comedic parts, he does pretty well playing a charismatic "outsider" politician thanks in no small part to Cena's inherent charisma so it works pretty well for what it's doing.
I think where the movie faulters however is in the core of this story because despite The Independent taking place in the "here and now" of American politics, it also feels oddly divorced from it as if the script is still operating in the years of 2010-2012. While there are some references to current events like fake news, conspiracy theories, and 1/6, the movie doesn't feel reflective of the current political landscape especially when you have candidates who've openly spouted or endorsed Q nonsense. The movie has a very wishy washy take on politics never really taking any sort of stance on it down to the fact the reveal of the conspiracy is apolitical in nature. The Independent feels like the kind of movie that should've come out around the same time as something like Rendition, State of Play, or Green Zone and that kind of narrative while still there isn't really at the forefront of the American political anymore due to the rise of extremists beliefs and conspiracy theories becoming more mainstreamed.
The Independent despite a topic premise and release date a mere week out from the election is well made and well-acted, but at its core it's a very generic conspiracy thriller that's completely divorced from the American political scene in which it sets itself. Instead of making commentary on real world political hysteria, The Independent creates an easy out for itself that leaves it a pretty toothless affair albeit one that's not poorly made or badly acted.
The Independent is a political thriller written by Evan Parter, and the feature directing debut of Amy Rice who'd previously served as a staff writer on Aaron Sorkin's The Newsroom and has some experiencing operating in the political arena having co-directed the 2009 documentary By the People: The Election of Barack Obama. Parter's script appeared on the 2013 Blacklist of best unproduced screenplays, but it wasn't until 2020 when the film was announced with Amy Rice directing and Kumali Najiani slated to play the lead until he dropped out with Jodie Turner-Smith taking over. Now dropping on Peacock a week before election night in the United States, I'm unfortunately disappointed to say despite proven talent on and behind the camera, The Independent is rather safe and ordinary.
To start off on a good note, the movie is well made with Amy Rice's direction eliciting some solid thrills and performances from her cast. Jodie Turner-Smith is solid as journalist Eli even if the script does occasionally call for her to make some pretty boneheaded decisions at points in the story. Brian Cox is also good as Eli's mentor/partner Nick Booker whose very much an old school journalist in both integrity and ethics and he's established as being something of a "man out of time" with how he plans to soon retire and he's quite good in the role. The biggest surprise however was in John Cena playing political candidate Nate Sterling and despite Cena more known for action oriented or comedic parts, he does pretty well playing a charismatic "outsider" politician thanks in no small part to Cena's inherent charisma so it works pretty well for what it's doing.
I think where the movie faulters however is in the core of this story because despite The Independent taking place in the "here and now" of American politics, it also feels oddly divorced from it as if the script is still operating in the years of 2010-2012. While there are some references to current events like fake news, conspiracy theories, and 1/6, the movie doesn't feel reflective of the current political landscape especially when you have candidates who've openly spouted or endorsed Q nonsense. The movie has a very wishy washy take on politics never really taking any sort of stance on it down to the fact the reveal of the conspiracy is apolitical in nature. The Independent feels like the kind of movie that should've come out around the same time as something like Rendition, State of Play, or Green Zone and that kind of narrative while still there isn't really at the forefront of the American political anymore due to the rise of extremists beliefs and conspiracy theories becoming more mainstreamed.
The Independent despite a topic premise and release date a mere week out from the election is well made and well-acted, but at its core it's a very generic conspiracy thriller that's completely divorced from the American political scene in which it sets itself. Instead of making commentary on real world political hysteria, The Independent creates an easy out for itself that leaves it a pretty toothless affair albeit one that's not poorly made or badly acted.
just plain boring
wrigco7 April 2024
I don't know what planet the person is on that thought this was prime time Sunday night movie fare.
Given the state of current American politics this is positively quaint. I admit to skipping large sections and never missed much.
Anyway, it drones on and on. The lead, whom I've never heard of sounds like she's reading points from a political spreadsheet with the same expressions throughout. Brian Cox could not save this.
I didn't think John Cena did too bad a job.
I suppose it might have been interesting when it first came out, but even then there were far more fascinating things about the elections to make a movie about.
Given the state of current American politics this is positively quaint. I admit to skipping large sections and never missed much.
Anyway, it drones on and on. The lead, whom I've never heard of sounds like she's reading points from a political spreadsheet with the same expressions throughout. Brian Cox could not save this.
I didn't think John Cena did too bad a job.
I suppose it might have been interesting when it first came out, but even then there were far more fascinating things about the elections to make a movie about.
I read 5.5 and thought I'd try it. It's much more than that.
drstevenbrown3 March 2023
I don't normally write reviews but I don't usually watch less than 6. This was intrigue and investigative journalism and I like that sort of story. And it fits the bill beautifully. Great acting from the 2 key players, some of the others are average but covered by the plot. Ok the best of this genre are true and this one isn't but it brings to light the split between right and left, the hypocrisy of freedom when in reality it's bought by big money. And the middle guy seems sensible, just and the ideal candidate. Well I suppose you just have to watch for the truth. I would have voted for him. Would I have been the only one.
A thriller that pulls you in and doesn't let go.
JohnRayPeterson6 November 2022
It's often said that suspension of disbelief is not a bad thing when you read or watch fiction, but in the case of "The Independent", you need no such thing. Sure it's fiction, but it hits so close to home you can't help but think 'this could so easily happen, right now'.
I think it was a pretty good script to begin with, then you have a big name, Brian Cox, to add to the work and other actors who do not fail to deliver very credible performances, and what you get is a movie which will make you think of "All the President's Men", which of course was not entirely fiction, just dramatically boosted. I may have elected (pun intended) to watch the movie because it featured Brian Cox, but Jodie Turner-Smith, a compatriot (another intended pun) of Brian Cox, is the main actor and she delivers like the pro she is. John Cena was, in my humble opinion, the required American actor which the story called for; he may be better known for other than plain thriller movies, but, admittedly, he provided what was needed, and may well add fans to his list as more people watch the film.
IMDb's storyline/synopsis is what I refer you to as I would not wish to spoil the movie going/watching experience for you. If that storyline turns you off because it sounds too far fetched or perhaps boring, I promise you it is neither, and it's why I hesitate not in recommending it.
I think it was a pretty good script to begin with, then you have a big name, Brian Cox, to add to the work and other actors who do not fail to deliver very credible performances, and what you get is a movie which will make you think of "All the President's Men", which of course was not entirely fiction, just dramatically boosted. I may have elected (pun intended) to watch the movie because it featured Brian Cox, but Jodie Turner-Smith, a compatriot (another intended pun) of Brian Cox, is the main actor and she delivers like the pro she is. John Cena was, in my humble opinion, the required American actor which the story called for; he may be better known for other than plain thriller movies, but, admittedly, he provided what was needed, and may well add fans to his list as more people watch the film.
IMDb's storyline/synopsis is what I refer you to as I would not wish to spoil the movie going/watching experience for you. If that storyline turns you off because it sounds too far fetched or perhaps boring, I promise you it is neither, and it's why I hesitate not in recommending it.
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