Swordfish (2001)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Dominic Sena

Writer (WGA):

Skip Woods (written by)

Release Date:

8 June 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Thriller | Crime

Tagline:

Log on. Hack in. Go anywhere. Steal everything.

Plot:

A secretive renegade counter-terrorist co-opts the world's greatest hacker (who is trying to stay clean) to steal billions in US Government dirty money.

Plot Keywords:

Computer | Coercion | Villain Played By Lead Actor | Black Panties | Undressing Scene

Awards:

3 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

John Travolta	...	Gabriel Shear
Hugh Jackman	...	Stanley Jobson
Halle Berry	...	Ginger Knowles
Don Cheadle	...	Agent J.T. Roberts
Sam Shepard	...	Senator James Reisman
Vinnie Jones	...	Marco
Drea de Matteo	...	Melissa
Rudolf Martin	...	Axl Torvalds
Zach Grenier	...	Assistant Director Bill Joy
Camryn Grimes	...	Holly Jobson
Angelo Pagan	...	Torres (as Angelo Pagán)
Chic Daniel	...	SWAT Leader
Kirk B.R. Woller	...	Axel's Lawyer
Carmen Argenziano	...	Agent
Tim DeKay	...	Agent

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, language and some sexuality/nudity.

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA | Australia

Language:

English | German

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #38324) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:14A (Manitoba) | Denmark:15 | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Philippines:R-18 | Netherlands:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Brazil:14 | Finland:K-15 | France:-12 | Germany:16 (w) | Hong Kong:IIB | Hungary:14 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:M18 (re-rating) | Singapore:NC-16 (original rating) | South Korea:15 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | Canada:13+ (Quebec)

Filming Locations:

Belasco Theatre - 1060 S. Hill Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Jonathan Krane Group

Trivia:

Nick Nolte was originally considered for the senator part that eventually went to Sam Shepard.

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: When the said-to-be Finnish hacker's passport is checked at the airport, a German "Bundesadler" can be clearly seen inside. The hacker has several passports, it's never stated that he's actually Finnish, just that he has a Finnish passport.

Quotes:

[Bus busts through set up barracades]
Stanley: Wait... where are we going?
Gabriel: Ever see the movie "Sugarland Express"?
[Stanley shakes his head]
Gabriel: Didn't like the way it ended.
[Bus is lifted into the air by a transport helicopter and becomes airborne]
Gabriel: Everybody hold on!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "20 to 1: Adults Only 20 to 01: World's Most Daring Movies (#8.1)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

Play to the Music

Passable action movie, but not great.

This was a decent action movie with a strong cast with the likes of John Travolta, Don Cheadle, Halle Berry, and Hugh Jackman. Travolta comes across as unconvincing in the role he plays, and sometimes he rushes through important scenes in the movie. Berry is decent as Ginger, his assistant and a secret DEA agent. Her nude scene was nice too. Jackman gives a good performance, and had me believing that he was a criminal hacker. Cheadle plays almost the same type of role he played in Traffic, but this time he's an even bigger jerk. The action scenes are good, sometimes very exciting. If you like to see an intelligent action film, this is for you. If you like to see the beautiful Halle Berry show off her perfect body, then this is the movie for you.