The Report (2019) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A congressional investigation confronts institutional secrecy, disputed intelligence claims, and retaliation before forcing a public record of the CIA interrogation program.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

The Hidden Interrogation Record

A Senate investigation begins inside a secure Virginia facility. The review uncovers the origins of enhanced interrogation and evidence that the CIA's justification for using it was false.

Key Events

• Feinstein Assigns Review — Feinstein selects a Senate staffer to lead a review of CIA enhanced interrogation materials. Characters: Dianne Feinstein Location: Senate
• Secret Review Facility — The investigative team begins reviewing six million pages at a covert Virginia site. Location: Sensitive compartmented information facility in Virginia
• Psychologists Enter Program — Bruce Jessen and James Mitchell are contracted to instruct the CIA in enhanced interrogation techniques. Characters: Bruce Jessen Location: CIA interrogation program
• Zubaydah Is Interrogated — The CIA applies enhanced interrogation techniques to Abu Zubaydah after initial rapport-building methods. Characters: Bruce Jessen, Abu Zubaydah Location: CIA black site
• Early Intelligence Contradicts CIA — Evidence indicates crucial intelligence was gathered before the CIA took over the interrogation. Characters: Abu Zubaydah Location: CIA interrogation records
• False Threat Profile Found — CIA records show Abu Zubaydah was falsely portrayed as high-ranking to authorize enhanced interrogation. Characters: Abu Zubaydah Location: Senate review facility

Evidence Beneath The Files

Medical objections and the concealed Panetta Review deepen the investigation. The records contradict public claims that torture produced essential intelligence.

Key Events

• Medical Objections Surface — A medical professional reveals that staff considered the techniques torture but were told not to document objections. Location: CIA black site
• The Panetta Review — The investigation discovers a critical internal CIA review prepared in 2009 but never shared. Location: CIA-provided files
• Public Claims Are Challenged — A pundit claims the techniques produced valuable intelligence and prevented terrorist attacks. Location: News broadcast
• Records Disprove Claims — An overnight review shows that claimed intelligence came from other means rather than torture. Location: Senate review facility

The Report Under Pressure

The completed report reaches the Intelligence Committee and the CIA. Brennan's meetings attempt to alter its findings, but the evidence withstands the pressure.

Key Events

• Report Reaches Committee — The completed report is approved by the Senate Intelligence Committee and sent to the CIA for comments. Characters: Dianne Feinstein Location: Senate Intelligence Committee
• Brennan Seeks Revisions — After becoming CIA director, Brennan arranges meetings intended to change elements of the report. Characters: Dianne Feinstein, John Brennan Location: CIA and Senate meetings
• Evidence Defends Findings — The investigation repeatedly provides evidence supporting the report's disputed conclusions. Characters: Dianne Feinstein, John Brennan Location: CIA and Senate meetings
• Feinstein Ends Negotiations — Feinstein stops discussions with the CIA and decides to preserve the report's text. Characters: Dianne Feinstein, John Brennan Location: Senate Intelligence Committee

Institutional Retaliation

Udall exposes the conflict between the CIA's position and its internal review. The CIA searches Senate computers, prompting Feinstein to accuse the agency of violating separation of powers.

Key Events

• Udall Reveals Review — Udall asks why the committee reports and Panetta Review conflict with the CIA's official position. Characters: Dianne Feinstein, Senator Mark Udall Location: Senate hearing
• CIA Searches Senate Computers — The CIA conducts an illegal search and threatens prosecution over the Panetta Review. Characters: John Brennan Location: Senate computer system
• Separation Of Powers Accusation — Feinstein formally accuses the CIA of unlawfully searching Senate computers. Characters: Dianne Feinstein, John Brennan Location: Senate
• CIA Backs Down — Brennan and the CIA retreat, and the threats against the investigator are dropped. Characters: Dianne Feinstein, John Brennan Location: Washington

A Public Record At Last

Redaction threats and an approaching change in Senate control endanger publication. The summary is finally released, supported by Senate speeches, while the investigator leaves his staff position.

Key Events

• Redaction Threatens Release — The president grants the CIA broad authority to redact the summary, creating uncertainty about its usefulness. Characters: Dianne Feinstein Location: Senate and White House process
• Leak Is Rejected — The investigator considers leaking the report but ultimately decides not to give it to the media. Location: Meeting with a newspaper reporter
• Election Deadline Approaches — A change in Senate control creates a deadline before the report could be buried by the incoming Congress. Characters: Dianne Feinstein Location: United States Senate
• Summary Is Released — The Senate releases the summary, followed by Feinstein's explanation of its findings and implications. Characters: Dianne Feinstein, Senator Mark Udall Location: Senate
• McCain Supports Report — John McCain gives an impassioned speech supporting the report after describing his own torture as a prisoner of war. Location: Senate
• Investigator Leaves Senate — The investigator leaves the Senate staff after the report summary is released, while no CIA officers are criminally charged. Characters: Dianne Feinstein Location: Senate

Story Breakdown

• Investigation Begins — Feinstein establishes a Senate review of CIA interrogation materials.
  • Senate Assignment — Feinstein selects a staffer to lead the investigation.
  • Secure Document Review — The team begins examining millions of pages at a covert Virginia facility.
• Interrogation Origins — The investigation traces enhanced interrogation to contracted psychologists and its use on Abu Zubaydah.
  • Psychologist Contracts — Bruce Jessen is connected to the CIA's training in enhanced interrogation techniques.
  • Zubaydah Case — The techniques are applied to Abu Zubaydah after rapport-building methods.
• False Intelligence Claims — CIA records undermine the agency's stated justification for torture.
  • Early Intelligence — Crucial information is obtained before the CIA takes over the interrogation.
  • False Threat Profile — Records show Abu Zubaydah was falsely portrayed as high-ranking.
• Suppressed Internal Evidence — Medical objections and a hidden internal review reveal dissent within the program.
  • Medical Objections — Medical professionals describe the techniques as torture but are told not to write objections.
  • Panetta Review — A critical CIA review exists but was not shared with the investigation.
• Report Under Pressure — The completed report faces efforts by the CIA to alter its conclusions.
  • Committee Approval — The Senate Intelligence Committee approves the 6,200-page report.
  • Brennan Meetings — Brennan arranges meetings seeking changes to the report.
• Congressional Resistance — Feinstein and Udall preserve the investigation's findings against executive pressure.
  • Evidence Preserved — Feinstein ends negotiations and keeps the report unchanged.
  • Udall Hearing — Udall publicly questions the conflict between CIA claims and internal documents.
• CIA Retaliation — The agency responds to the disclosure with an illegal search and prosecution threats.
  • Computer Search — The CIA searches Senate computers for the Panetta Review.
  • Charges Dropped — Feinstein's accusation leads the CIA to back down and abandon threats.
• Public Release — The report survives redaction threats and an approaching change in Senate control.
  • Leak Rejected — The investigator considers but declines to leak the report to the media.
  • Summary Published — The Senate releases the summary before the new Congress can bury it.
• Aftermath — The public record is established, but criminal accountability does not follow.
  • Senate Speeches — Feinstein summarizes the findings and McCain gives an impassioned defense.
  • Limited Accountability — The investigator leaves his job, while no CIA officers are criminally charged.

Directed by

Scott Z. Burns

Key Cast

• Adam Driver — Daniel Jones
• Annette Bening — Dianne Feinstein
• Jon Hamm — Denis McDonough
• Sarah Goldberg — April
• Michael C. Hall — Thomas Eastman