Hackers Movie Review

In another poor attempt to capitalize on the Internet craze, a group of teenage computer hackers surf their way into the wrong system. When Dade (Jonny Lee Miller) breaks into the computer system at Ellingson Oil, he becomes the perfect scapegoat for the industrial espionage being conducted by security chief Fisher Stevens. The underground hackers band together in an effort to clear their good names, and buy better hardware. Unfortunately, without the techno gadgets, the plot is mundane. Miller and Angelina Jolie both have charisma, and manage to generate some chemistry between them, but Fisher Stevens as the corporate security chief is about as scary as a kitten with a ball of yarn. Director Iain Softley, despite taking drastic liberties with the technology, does a good job with the visuals, taking viewers inside the minds of the hackers, rather than just watching geeks type on keyboards. A snappy techno soundtrack adds spice to this otherwise flavorless thriller. Jolie (hacker Acid Burn) is the daughter of actor Jon Voight. Look for magician Penn Jillette (of Penn & Teller) in a small role.

1995 (PG-13) 105m/C Jonny Lee Miller, Angelina Jolie, Fisher Stevens, Lorraine Bracco, Jesse Bradford, Wendell Pierce, Alberta Watson, Laurence Mason, Renoly Santiago, Matthew Lillard, Penn Jillette; D: Iain Softley; W: Rafael Moreu; C: Andrzej Sekula; M: Simon Boswell. VHS, LV MGM