Sandy Kenyon reviews documentary about Edward Snowden: "Citizen Four"

NEW YORK (WABC) -- It was just two years ago that an analyst working for the National Security Agency went missing, turned up in Hong Kong, and started releasing massive amounts of classified documents.

Now, Edward Snowden is the subject of a new documentary called "Citizen Four".

The filmmaker was hand-selected by Snowden and given unique access to him.

Edward Snowden remains a mystery to many Americans who wonder about his decision to release so many highly classified to secret documents to journalists.

After seeing a new film opening Friday, I feel I understand the man better, thanks to the access he granted a pair of journalists who have already won a Pulitzer Prize for their efforts.

The journey to a Hong Kong hotel room began with an email and the new movie takes its title from the way Edward Snowden signed his first messages to the director of the film: "Thank you and be careful, Citizen Four."

So began what's been described as "the biggest leak of intelligence secrets in U.S. history", and this puts you side by side with the guy who worked first for the CIA, and then as a private contractor for the National Security Agency.

We watch as Snowden orchestrates his release of classified files, working with newspapers, to show how the U.S. government spies on its own citizens by collecting massive amounts of data.

"These are public issues. These aren't my issues. These are everybody's issues," said Snowden.

You may know how this story ends, with Snowden in exile in President Vladimir Putin's Russia, but that doesn't make this documentary any less tense as we see him work with just a few reporters he has chosen.

"Are you getting more nervous?", he is asked.

"When somebody like busts in the door, suddenly I'll get nervous," Snowden says.

They never do, and the tension that is generated by his situation gets dissipated because filmmaker Laura Poitras isn't ruthless enough in the editing of her film.

'Less' would have meant 'more' here, and there's actually not enough time given to those who feel Snowden is a traitor.

But however you may feel about what he did, the chance to watch him do it is truly fascinating and well worth your time.