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Swordfish. (2001) Cert 15. Director - Dominic Sena Writer - Dominic Sena. Starring - John Travolta, Hugh Jackman, Don Cheadle & Halle Berry. |
Premise - In order to earn funds for his child's custody battle an
ex-con and super computer hacker takes a job to hit a bank for the US
government's illegal slush fund. I had fairly high hopes for this film. Dominic Sena's previous film was
the decidedly average 'Gone In 60 Seconds', but I chalked much of that
films failings to producer Jerry Bruckhiemers well known smothering style.
So I thought that if given free reign we might see some of the potential
that he showed realised. However Sena seems intent in recreating 60secs
look and style. Swordfish boasts the same washed out gold look that
inhabited 60secs, the same troubled lead going back into crime to save a
family member and the same Vinnie Jones.
Swordfish isn't a total
loss however, it boasts many interesting characters that stray from the
normal action movie clichés.
Travolta seems to do his best work
when he's playing a villain (Battlefield Earth will not be mentioned!), he
relishes the suave, cool characters he creates. However his character here
has a quest. In order to wage war on international terrorists, he must
become one to raise the funds required for his cause. He has a righteous
cause, but turns into what he despises to achieve his goals (see also Ed
Harris in The Rock).
Hugh Jackman is the hero of the piece and he
builds nicely on the reputation he kicked of in X-Men, he is very capable
and I expect big things from him in the future.
Elsewhere Don
Cheadle provides an effortless turn as a cyber cop tracking hackers, this
kind of stuff is clearly beneath him, but hey got to pay those bills.
Halle Berry is pure window dressing and her character serves the plot in
no way. She could have been removed and the film would not have been
harmed. I've already mentioned Vinnie Jones, here's a tip Vin. Stop
playing silent hard men, you will be typecast forever!
The
soundtrack is worth a mention. UK DJ Paul Oakenfold provides the music and
it's a nice collection of upbeat house/techno, perfect for this type of
film.
One thing the film does have in its favour is the 'coolest
explosion in movie history' (tm). By lifting SFX straight from the Matrix
we get a 360degree, slo-mo, tracking shot of an explosion. Very nice and
the best use of bullet time since The Matrix.
Like 60secs before
it Swordfish is pure eye candy, nothing pretentious just entertainment.
Like I expected anything else!
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6/10 for Swordfish. Poster Quote - Hack, it's not too bad! |