 Movie
Reviews
with Evelyn Gough.
Swordfish (MA)
Directed By Dominic Sena
For a Joel Silver production Swordfish is a bit slow. Nobody dies and nothing explodes for at least the first five minutes!
Instead, we're treated to a monologue from star John Travolta, as the suave, sophisticated multi-millionaire Gabriel Shear, who has some very definite opinions on Hollywood and filmmaking. And let's just say they're not overly complimentary.
Is writer Skip Woods having a not too subtle dig at director Dominic Sena, when Gabriel says directly to the camera, "You know what the problem with Hollywood is? It makes shit." (Or maybe he saw Travolta's Battlefield Earth).
After all Gone in 60 Seconds was a pretty apt title.
As for Swordfish, it may never make it into the 10 must-see films of the decade, but for those who like a bit of plot with their action, it delivers - if you can keep up that is! A firm believer in the big bang theory, Dominic Sena begins as he means to end, with plenty of loud heart-pounding action that had me gasping within the first 10 minutes.
But this is no simple bank heist movie. Thanks to Woods' screenplay, there's enough political intrigue and double-dealing to keep you thinking.
The perv factor isn't bad either. For the females, there's that deliciously scrummy (and he can act as well) Aussie hunka-hunka-burnin'-love, Hugh Jackman, looking remarkably like a young Clint Eastwood. Jackson plays Stanley, just out of jail, living in a squalid trailer and forbidden from seeing his 10-year-old daughter.
He's a computer hacker - one of the best in the world - and when the gorgeous Ginger (Halle Berry) comes bearing large amounts of money and offering him the chance to make $10 million more, he finds himself, against his better judgement, accepting the invitation to work for Gabriel.
Speaking of large amounts of money and deals too good to refuse, Halle Berry was paid more than $500,000 by Warner Bros. to expose her breasts for eight seconds. (Gone in eight seconds?)
Money well spent? Check them out for yourself!
Personally, with Lara Croft last week and now Halle's gals worthy of double billing, I'm starting to wilt under the competition. It's teenage boyfest!
Despite inviting the obvious criticism with rather inflammatory remarks at its beginning, Swordfish isn't a bad action movie. There's decent character development, the actors can actually act (Hugh is terrific) and there is even (shock, horror) a plot with a bit of a sneaky twist to it. It's no Usual Suspects and it won't receive any Best Picture nominations but if you're into action thrillers Swordfish is the go.
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