Let me begin with the fact that the title ’’ Swordfish’’ has little or nothing to do with the movie per se.
This movie revolves around a very charismatic Gabriel (John Travolta….who happens to be my favorite actor, that side of the Atlantic ) who along with his moll, Ginger, ( Halle Berry, once seen in thongs ) masterminds bank robberies to aid a ’’terrorist’’ organization.
Gabriel needs a genius hacker to hack into various defense and finance sites……and real fast ! Enter hacker hunk Stanley Jobson ( Hugh Jackman ), one time convict and outlaw for cybercrimes, yearning for his little daughter who lives with his smoke-n-wine ex wife, now living in with a porn film director. Cashing in on his sentiments, Ginger slowly but surely persuades Stan to work for Gabriel for $ 10 million. Stan agrees, only to find himself being entangled in what looks like a sinister conspiracy. As the plot unfolds Gabriel’s ’’noble’’ intentions come to light confusing Stan and the viewers. The question that comes to mind is……is Gabriel really what he seems to be, ….a villain? Or is he a hero with a difference?
U.S.P.
The film opens with a bomb blast that is shot and edited like no other ever seen. Travolta’s is always seen in pubs surrounded by bimbettes and gunmen alike….that is, when he is not killing people. The film also has an astounding chase where Jackman is followed by a couple of cops along the steep slope of a cliff. This sequence has been remarkably shot and brilliantly executed. There is also the sequence where a bus is airborne(for no logical reason) which is a visual treat all the same.Other action sequences are well shot too. The plot unfolds into a very confusing but surprisingly, ’’patriotic’’ end.
Cast
Travolta’s character in the film is simply amazing and he has more than done justice to the role…..as he always does. Jackman is good as the hacker, great looks and a decent job with acting. Halle Berry is passable as the sexy Ginger, though the director could have made a better pick from Hollywood’s wide array of sultry sirens to suit this role.
What I think!
I think the film is just amazing. Good visual effects, slick editing, great music, and last but certainly not the least, John Travolta. However, the concept of ’’patriotism’’ is presented in such a radically different manner, that it is hard to swallow. The film also gets confusing towards the end, thereby warranting all your attention to it.
All in all………………way to go, Mr. Travolta !!