Director: Iain Softley
Writer: Rafael Moreu (Screenplay)
Starring: Jonny Lee Miller, Angelina Jolie, Jesse Bradford, Matthew Lillard, Laurence Mason, Renoly Santiago, Fisher Stevens, Alberta Watson
Plot: A young boy is arrested by the U.S. Secret Service for writing a computer virus and is banned from using a computer until his 18th birthday. Years later, he and his new-found friends discover a plot to unleash a dangerous computer virus, but they must use their computer skills to find the evidence while being pursued by the Secret Service and the evil computer genius behind the virus.
Verdict: Dated Thriller
Story: What we get here is a group of teenage hackers trying to prove who is the best but end up getting caught up in a bigger problem. When one hacks a company he accidently uncovers something, he does not know what but the person responsible does know and wants to frame him while he gets away scot free. When the rest of the hacker friends find out they team up to expose the person reasonable for it. It comes off as a tidy thriller as well as being a teen film that will go down in cult following. It won’t be remember as the most original and the ideas behind the technology are dated now. (7/10)
Actor Review
Jonny Lee Miller: Dade after causing a major hack when he was just 11 he was banned from using technology until he turned 18. Moving city at 18 he falls in with others who are hackers leading him to get caught up in the middle of moral dilemma help his friends or not go to jail. Good performance from Miller in the lead role. (7/10)
Angelina Jolie: Kate the bad girl of the school who becomes a love interest for Dade as well being an elite hacker. Good early performance from Jolie showing she was going to be a big star for the future. (7/10)
Jesse Bradford: Joey the young hacker who was out to impress the rest when hacking into a company he ends up uncovering something he shouldn’t have but also something he doesn’t know he has. Good performance as the out to impress guy of the group. (7/10)
Matthew Lillard: Cereal part of the hackers, seems to be older than the rest as well as being seemingly homeless. He offers the most comical relief to the story. Good early performance from Lillard showing he can play slightly wacky. (7/10)
Laurence Mason: Nikon fellow hacker who seems to be the go to go for connection and is aware of Dade past. Good supporting performance. (6/10)
Renoly Mason: Phreak the last member of the hacker group, he is the quick talking member who fills most of the information about each of the characters. Good performance who is important to help us identify everyone. (7/10)
Fisher Stevens: The Plague the hacker who works for the company who is the man trying to frame the hackers for his big plan. He is very charismatic when taking on the hackers thinking he is the best in the business. (7/10)
Director Review: Iain Softley – Good direction to create a film well worth watching about how unsafe computers really are. (7/10)
Comedy: Gives us a few chuckles and using a lot of references from the 90s that don’t work as well now. (5/10)
Thriller: Keeps you wanting to see what happens next. (8/10)
Settings: Each setting are many ideas where hacking could happen but we don’t focus too much on the actual settings. (5/10)
Special Effects: Uses a few effects for the computer hacking scenes showing how exploring could look like, but mainly all dated. (5/10)
Suggestion: I think this will be enjoyed by all the thriller fans out there and maybe all the technology fans. (Thriller Fans Watch)
Best Part: The Big Hack.
Worst Part: It has dated now.
Believability: When it came out it could come off as real but now the way it is done wouldn’t happen. (5/10)
Chances of Tears: No (0/10)
Chances of Sequel: No
Post Credits Scene: No
Similar Too: The Net
Oscar Chances: No
Box Office: $7.5 Million
Runtime: 1 Hour 47 Minutes
Tagline: Hack The Planet!
Overall: Solid Thriller
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