The Report

A crackling retort to Zero Dark Thirtyand its argument for the benefits of torture in a post-9/11 world, the procedural thriller The Reportspits in the face of government corruption and encourages viewers to rethink a key chapter of recent political history.

Playing real-life Senate Intelligence Committee investigator Daniel Jones, Adam Driver fortifies his claim to the title of his generation’s best actor with a nuanced performance of a man driven to do the right thing in the face of incredible interference.

His multiyear journey of extreme dedication finds validation from a handful of allies — namely his boss, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (Annette Bening) — and opposition from numerous others. The film moves between these key characters and storylines with impeccable smoothness, keeping the pace active without losing sight of its featured players.

Shepherding it all forward is Scott Z. Burns, a longtime screenwriting collaborator of Steven Soderbergh who somehow hasn’t directed a feature since 2006’s Breaking Bad-esque Russian radiation drama, Pu-239. His ability to funnel complex operations through an easily digestible package is a massive achievement and results in one of the year’s most important and compelling films.

Grade: A-minus. Rated R. Starts Nov. 15 at Grail Moviehouse

(Photo: Atsushi Nishijima/Amazon Studios)