Star John Travolta revisits the grinning villain territory he explored in BROKEN ARROW and FACE/OFF with this stylish, supercharged techno-thriller. He plays Gabriel, a charismatic, fast-living mystery man who, with help from his right-hand woman, Ginger (Halle Berry), recruits ex-con and former master hacker Stan (Hugh Jackman) to aid in a plan to steal billions from a secret government bank account. Stan reluctantly agrees to help in order to finance the legal battle for custody of his young daughter (Camryn Grimes). Meanwhile an FBI computer crimes specialist (Don Cheadle) is determined to find out what's about to go down, and plans to use Stan to find out.
The movie amply earns its keep by cleverly zig-zagging away from audience's expectations and delivering many clever, pulse-pounding action set pieces--including an incredible opening explosion, a car chase through downtown Los Angeles replete with blazing machine guns, and a spectacular airborne climax. With the help of a propulsive electronica score by DJ Paul Okenfold, director Dominic Sena (GONE IN 60 SECONDS) lays down lots of style, and Travolta is mesmerizing in his juicy role.
UMD Features:
Widescreen
Audi:
(P): 2.0 French
2.0 English, Italian, German, Spanish
Distributor Notes: Swordfish
When the DEA shut down its dummy corporation operation codenamed SWORDFISH in 1986, they had generated $400 million which they let sit around; fifteen years of compound interest has swelled it to $9.5 billion. A covert counter-terrorist unit called Black Cell, headed by the duplicitious and suave Gabriel Shear, wants the money to help finance their raise-the-stakes vengeance war against international terrorism, but it's all locked away behind super-encryption. He brings in convicted hacker Stanley Jobson, who only wants to see his daughter Holly again but can't afford the legal fees, to slice into the government mainframes and get the money.
Source: Warner Home Video
Stars
John Travolta: American actor, SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER, GREASE, PHENOMENON
Hugh Jackman: Actor
Halle Berry: Oscar winning actress, MONSTER'S BALL
Don Cheadle: Actor
Camryn Grimes: Actor, SWORDFISH (2001)
Vinnie Jones: Actor
Sam Shepard: Actor, playwright,
Zach Grenier:
Director
Dominic Sena: Director
Producer
Joel Silver: American Producer
Jonathan Krane: Producer, Married Sally Kellerman
Dan Cracchiolo:
Screenwriter
Skip Woods: Writer/Director
Composer
Christopher Young: Composer, COPYCAT/THE SHIPPING NEWS
Paul Okenfold: Composer, SWORDFISH (2001)
Editor
Stephen E. Rivkin: Editor, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST (2006)
Director of Photography
Paul Cameron: Director of Photography
Executive Producer
Bruce Berman: executive producer
Executive Producer
Jim Van Wyck: Executive Producer, SWORDFISH (2001)
Production Designer
Jeff Mann: Production Designer, T3 (2003)
Costume Designer
Ha Ngyen: Costume Designer, SWORDFISH (2001)
Review 1:
"...The movie has constant mayhem and a speedy pace..."
Source: USA Today
p.9E 06/08/2001
Review 2:
"...Enjoyably corrupt....[Travolta] electrifies the space around him with his mellifluous and cocky authority..."
Source: Entertainment Weekly
p.56 06/15/2001
Review 3:
"...Mounted in breathlessly stylish fashion, with a great-looking cast....It's turbo-charged, with hyper-realistic, attenuated slo-mo action shots..."
Source: Variety
p.16-23 06/04/2001
Review 4:
"...[Jackman] steals the show, much as he did in X-MEN, investing his character with a steely resolve..."
Source: Sight and Sound
p.54-5 09/01/2001
Review 5:
"...It's Jackman who tears away with most of the scenes....The man, quite simply, is a star..."
Source: Total Film
p.98 09/01/2001
Review 6:
"Jackman and Cheadle are great, Travolta's sublime..."
Source: Uncut
p.125 09/01/2004
Review 7:
"[The film] has a slick, stylish appearance....[With] an enjoyable soundtrack."
Source: Widescreen Review
p.67 07/01/2006
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