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| DIRECTED BY |
| Iain Softley |
| STARRING |
| Jonny Lee Miller |
| Angelina Jolie |
| Jesse Bradford |
| Matthew Lillard |
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The world of computer hacking is stylized to an almost unbearably ridiculous degree. The computer programs that we see are fancifully designed and look like they�ve been extracted from the mind of a person tripping out on acid. If hacking is or ever has been anything like this then I�ll be damned. And the over-stylization doesn�t stop there � these characters dress as if they�ve been exposed to dangerous chemicals that adversely affected their sense of fashion.
And there�s the actual �plot� of the film too � involving a fusion of a greatly tiresome �bad guys versus good guys� storyline with a greatly exaggerated computerized universe. Why can�t the police in this film just go through peoples� doors instead of busting through their windows? Why are they all idiots? If this kid's floppy disc mattered so damn much, then why couldn't they have just thoroughly searched the kid's room? Did the writer think it would be a good idea to have the film�s main villain ride around on a massive skateboard like a total dork? And once again, it�s a shame to see that Jesse Bradford � coming off of such a strong performance in �King of the Hill,� went nowhere but down on the cinematic ladder.
It�s not a good thing when the only thing that�s really praiseworthy about a film is technical, and �Hackers� falls into that category. Its computerized graphics montages are reasonably well done, along with other random visual effects. But the whole film turns out to be nothing more than a technically savvy joke, which is a shame considering the fact that a pretty interesting film could probably be made about the world of computer hacking.
