Title: “Swordfish”
Year: 2001
Run Time: 99 mins
Genre: Action/Thriller
Cast: John Travolta, Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Don Cheadle, Sam Shepard, Vinnie Jones, Drea de Mateo, Rudolph Martin
Director: Dominic Sena (“Kalifornia”, “Gone In Sixty Seconds”)
Plot: It’s hard to fight off your enemy when you can’t see him coming. It’s even harder to defend yourself when you don’t even know who or what you’re up against. And it’s downright almost impossible to catch the villain who seems to be able to disappear in the middle of a crowded room. Prepare for your mind to be hacked by the action thriller “Swordfish”!
Stanley Jobson (Hugh Jackman), former computer hacker and convicted felon on probation, is trying to live his life on the straight and narrow in the hopes of being able to gain custody of his beloved daughter Holly (Camryn Grimes) from his estranged former wife. There isn’t anything he wouldn’t do just to be reunited with her. But after years of trying, all hope seems to be lost…that is until one fateful day when he receives a visit from the sexy and voluptuous debutant Ginger (Halle Berry). The information Ginger was about to reveal to him was both highly sensitive and extremely ludicrous. No matter what the info is considered to be, Stanley Jobson’s life was about to be effected in a way that would change his life forever. What Ginger gives to him is an opportunity; an opportunity to obtain the one goal that he could never reach on his own…and that’s to provide a future for himself with his daughter safely by his side. He only has to agree to meet with her mysterious employer Gabriel Shear (John Travolta) in order to solidify their relationship and to see if he has what it takes to get this possible job venture done. Reluctant at first, Stanley finally decides that he has no other option except to look deeper into the proposition Mr. Shear has to offer. Upon meeting face to face with Gabriel, Stanley quickly realizes the extreme danger and nature of the task at hand. The job consists of Stanley rekindling with his super computer hacking skills in order to create an electronic worm that has the ability to break into a highly classified government slush fund. Upon completion of this job, Shear promises Stanley the life changing payout of 10 million dollars. Satisfied with the terms of agreement, Stanley decides to risk it all, for the sake of his daughter, and dives head first into the seemingly impossible operation. “Is it possible?” ” Nothings impossible.” But what Stanley doesn’t realize is now that he has stepped into Gabriel Shears world… nothing is what it seems to be.
When you put together the “dream team” of director Dominic Sena and producers Joel Silver (The Matrix) and Johnathan D. Crane (Face/Off), and team them up with the brilliant writing skills of Skip Woods, you are guaranteed to have an action thriller masterpiece at hand. The base of this movie is provided by the writing genius of Skip Woods. He creates a surreal underground world that interacts within the unsuspecting society that surrounds it. Particular characters he created, such as Gabriel Shear, are almost mythical in existence and leave you wondering if this type of ruthless person could actually exist. At the same time, he gives us a character like Stanley Jobson whom almost all of society can relate to and easily make an emotional connection with, due to his extreme desire to provide a better life for his daughter. But what good is all of this if you don’t have someone who can bring all of this beautiful writing to life? Luckily, the team of Dominic Sena, Joel Silver and Johnathan D. Krane answered the call and proved that they were up to the task. Whether it was the extremely exquisite stunts that were put together to fulfill our unending appetite for danger and action, or if it was the pure genius of just how each scene seemed to feed off one other, or how they put together the perfect electrifying cast with actors such as John Travolta, Hugh Jackman and Don Cheadle ,“Swordfish” is the end product of pure film-making perfection.
Now it’s obvious that the presence of extremely talented actors such as, but not limited to, John Travolta, Hugh Jackman, and Halle Berry brought an explosive element and an extra dimension to this movie that is very rarely obtained. But the unsung hero of “Swordfish”, in my opinion, is the musical genius of Paul Oakenfold who provided his unworldly talents to create a phenomenal and mesmerizing music score. Track’s like “Newborn”, “Password” and “Lapdance (featuring N.E.R.D.) create and produce an ambiance of mystery and excitement that launches “Swordfish” into a realm never obtained before. The hypnotic beats seem to draw you in and hack into the inner sanctum’s of your mind, causing your psyche to be effected in a way like no other. If it weren’t for the musical talents of Paul Oakenfold, this movie wouldn’t of reached the unattainable realm’s of greatness that “Swordfish” now easily obtained. The excellence of his work was not to be over looked, for he received a BMI Music Award for the genius of his efforts.
The Obvious: This movie was a masterpiece of directing, writing, producing and acting all rolled into one that produces a profound and mesmerizing effect on the senses and the inner boundaries of the mind.
The Not So Obvious: What may not have been so obvious to many is what, in my opinion, makes this movie to be set in a class of it’s own. The element I’m getting at is the movies precise use of the element of “misdirection“. “Misdirection” is the main theme used throughout the entirety of the film and the effect it plays on the human mind is staggering. What every viewer must understand is that for most of the movie we have stepped into the world of the master manipulating mind of character Gabriel Shear. And believe me, when the character Axl Torvalds say’s that “He exists in a world beyond your world,” he is not exaggerating. Because there are no coincidences in his world, there are only deliberate actions and reactions committed in which he is the puppet master pulling everyone’s strings to act out on them. “Misdirection” is his key to success, for he uses it in a way that causes everyone’s attention to be on a specific event, when in fact his true ulterior motive lies in the exact opposite direction, leaving everyone at the mercy of his hands.
“He lives a life where nothing is beyond him…he is a driven, unflinching, calculating machine.”
–Words of Axl Torvalds about Gabriel Shear-
The Final Cut: “Swordfish” is a masterpiece on many different levels. First off, the writing of Skip woods is phenomenal, for he presents us with a story and characters that are complex, exciting, and mysterious in nature. Next, we have the extraordinary directing of Dominic Sena combined with the producing excellence of Joel Silver and Johnathan D. Crane, who bring this story and the characters, within, to life in such a way that will invade the inner chasms of your mind and leave a permanent imprint on your psyche. Then we have the musical genius of Paul Oakenfold who spins his hypnotic beats which raise the bar of excellence to this movie even higher. Then, if that wasn’t enough, we are made witness to what I believe is one of John Travolta’s greatest an most intriguing roles of his career. Put that all together and I believe the movie “Swordfish” is on a level all it’s own. There is no doubt in my mind that this is a movie that everyone can and will enjoy. This is definitely a must see!
