HACKERS (1995)

Directed By: Iain Softley 
Written By: Rafael Moreu 
Cinematography By: Andrezej Sekula 
Editor: Christopher Blunden & Martin Walsh 


Cast: Johnny Lee Miller, Angelina Jolie, Matthew Lillard, Jesse Bradford, Lorraine Bracco, Fisher Stevens, Wendell Pierce, Marc Anthony, Laurence Mason, Renoly Santiago, Alberta Watson, Michael Gaston, Penn Jillette, Felicity Huffman 


Dade Murphy was a hacker even as a kid in Seattle. He got arrested for the computer virus that he planted and was banned from using any computer until the age of 18.Then he moves to New York to meet a group of hackers. He also falls in love with Kate Libby.


I know this is one of those films many look back on nostalgically. As this is one go the few films that made hacking or being nerdy as a teenager look cool. As really these kids seem to have not only the latest gear but never have curfews or patent who question except in a few scenes more for comedic or dramatic purposes. Maybe that is the point. For the film as even though set in New York these kids have nothing but free time and absent parents who just give them money instead of quality time. So this is their interest and their own way of acting out.

It’s noteworthy that none of the characters truly look young enough to be in high school. Also that the film has it’s targets set with an electronic music soundtrack. Plenty of cutting age futuristic fashions including Angelina Jolie’s in a pixie hair cut and plenty of bright lights and settings to illustrate going on the web and hacking files to make it seem more exciting. As well as a lot of extreme close up’s So that we are face to face with the characters as they type furiously.

I remember being excited when this film came out. As I had previously discovered Angelina Jolie’s in a movie called CYBORG 2 and was a bit obsessed with her at the time so seeing the preview was quite the thrill even if I never ended up seeing it in theaters, only because I missed the first week and it seemed to disappear rather quickly from theaters. So I had to wait for home video. I had videotaped the trailer and watched it repeatedly in the morning before school to get me hyped and ready for the day. I would tape these trailers off of the E channel from a show called coming attractions that was weekly and was all about the new trailers. This was before the Internet really took gold. I would do this with trailers I thought were really exceptional movies like PULP FICTION, BAD BOYS, JADE or the remake of KISS OF DEATH (yes I know there were two David Caruso movies named this was when he was convinced he could be a movie star off of one season of NYPD BLUE and plenty of character actor roles that lead up to it. He took his shot) Katherine Heigel was originally cast in her role but had to leave the role when UNDER SEIGE 2: DARK TERRITORY took too long filming. Though Hillary Swank, Liv Tyler and Heather Graham all auditioned for the role.

The film makes hackers look like superheroes which would match the way the film comes off more like a comic book movie. Where the characters are also made to look like the coolest teenagers in New York with access to everything. Even though their technology would never be able to have as much access and power. So it comes off making it look like the strength and power of the computer in weird science was real almost.

It also explains why such small moments are magnified to look cool and be more exciting. The practical effects when it comes to the exciting travels through the internet and computers.

This was also the beginning of Matthew Lillard and what I refer to as his annoying period where he always seemed to play his roles is over the top and annoying. So here he is one of the more annoying elements.

Fisher Stevens as the villain is hard to tell if his character believes he is cool or if the film is forcing the audience to believe that he is fresh and cutting edge. As it seems so ridiculous like a villain in a children’s film yet strangely it fits into the overall extravagance this film seems to offer. As the character wold seem more adept in a comic book movie. The only reason he seems revered in his profession is that he seems to be the smartest guy in the room At his job and Lorraine Bracco as his partner and lover seems only here to be partially the audience surrogate who needs everything explained to her.

The film has a disarming sense of humor a sit has more humor Than expected. As this film is not only a perfect time capsule of it’s Period and definitely more about end at teenagers.

This film is also where I first remember seeing Wendell pierce in a major role and while he plays the role well. He is also hilarious throughout.

The less said about Johnny lee miller’s American accent the better.

The film introduces certain aspects and rules only to abandon them and seems at first to get lost in it’s own textured juvenile hijinks and characters. As nothing about this film feels realistic or identifiable for a teenager who this is certainly aimed at as an audience. After a while the film seems to become so bad it’s Good. Though you can tell effort at least went into it.

It’s futuristic In it’s own way as it tries to set trends in all kinds of ways the hacker culture seeming more fashionable and computer usage becoming bigger and more popular. As the film focuses on rebellion and actually more letting intelligence be more cool.

The ending just seems loopy as the camera seem to circle all of the hackers and offers us a montage of various diverse hackers join together to thwart evil. Even though they seem like they more would likely join in.


Grade: C