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FILM DETAILS

Certificate 15

Cast John Travolta Hugh Jackman Halle Berry Don Cheadle Vinnie Jones.

Directors Dominic Sena.

Screenwriters Skip Woods.

Running Time 105 minutes

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Swordfish
Slick techno-thriller with John Travolta, which is genuinely inventive, witty and gripping.

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Plot
In a last attempt to win custody of his daughter, computer hacker Stanley Jobson becomes embroiled in a lethal money-making heist with the psychotic Gabriel Shear. Pursued by Agent Roberts and tempted by the mysterious Ginger, he soon discovers that no-one is what they seem.

Review
On paper it spelt disaster. Dominic Sena following up his damp squib, Gone In 60 Seconds? John Travolta sporting another haircut that even Andrew Ridgeley would balk at? Christ. So, there was always plenty riding on the first ten minutes of Swordfish. One more mediocre action sequence, or dire one-liner, might just have sunk the entire endeavour before it had a chance. So, it comes as something of a relief that said ten minutes come in as frankly breathtaking, with a hostage situation going explosively wrong, and a bank employee (or, as Travolta's Gabriel Shear has it, "a walking Claymore mine") ending up splattered on the sidewalk, as well as innocent bystanders and anything else in a 500-yard radius.

It's a staggering sequence, shot in both slo and flo-mo, bleached hues, and the kind of kinetic pacing, which adds a unique and effective flavour. The remainder of the plot is, to be fair, utter tosh, while maintaining the early momentum naturally proves impossible - even the climax, in which an entire bus is attached to a helicopter and flown through the streets, feels like a step down. But there's more than enough in the way of shoot-outs and sex appeal to hold the attention. Ironically, Sena even manages to include a five-minute car chase that's more exhilarating than 60 Seconds in its entirety.

Likewise, this time around he makes the most of his cast, with Jackman largely living up to his post-Wolverine hype, Travolta back to more typical form as the charismatic bad boy and Cheadle providing seamless back-up. And even if Vinnie Jones is no doubt fuming that his part in proceedings has been edited down to little more than that of Henchman #1, Sena - having perhaps learned from wasting Angelina Jolie previously - grants Berry a surprisingly meaty role, as the unlikeliest Ginger ever to grace the screen. Oh, and anyone still questioning the $500,000 she was allegedly paid for her topless scene? Rest assured, she's ripping no-one off.

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Swordfish

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Average user rating for Swordfish

RE: Swordfish

Great story. Great characters. Great movie. Great Halle berry. ... More

Posted by moviebuff73 at 10:12, 06 May 2013 | Report This Post

RE: Cracking Stuff!

dfish (2001) WARNING!ossibly the stupidest movie title ever? we do find out why during the film but still. Possibly the stupidest look for Travolta? the most camp hairdo? gotta be contenders huh. This film is basically about hacking computers, stealing lots of money and transferring it here there and everywhere in a flurry of slick sexy sequences. That's pretty much it, Travolta's character tells us its all in the name of national security and for US protection against terrorism, which ... More

Posted by Phubbs at 21:26, 10 April 2013 | Report This Post

Cracking Stuff!

Utter nonsense, unsurprisingly; but one great thrill-ride. It's one of those films, like Face-Off, that requires a total suspension of belief and a willingness to just be entertained. There's nothing cerebral here, and no 'message', except that a little escapism now and then is nothing less than essential. ... More

Posted by lightworks at 23:59, 06 October 2010 | Report This Post

Truly awful

Swordfish - the creatures - filter their own waste through their entire bodies. Swordfish - the movie - doesn't even bother to dilute the mire. The promising opening few minutes make matters worse as the catastrpohe which follows is a cosmic disappointment. Shocking, wooden performances - Vinnie Jones taking the title for Most Pointless Scene In A Movie Ever - what in the name of Godzilla's balls was that rocket launcher/suppository line all about? That said, the entire film is a haphazard ... More

Posted by Sloane at 19:00, 22 July 2010 | Report This Post

High On Action And Known Stars.

Swordfish is a excellent movie, the first ten minutes are intense and you know you are in for a ride for ninety minutes. The story is Stanley is fresh out of jail from his hacking into computers, not allowed to visit his daughter and stuck in a dead-end job. When Ginger arrives, she offers him a second chance of seeing his daughter by meeting Gabriel but he soon realises that both of them arren't what they seem and must surrive through this. It's a gripping movie, it has themes from The Matrix l... More

Posted by joanna likes films at 18:03, 14 May 2009 | Report This Post

It's abit like "Hackers" has been thrown at a tactless version of "The Usual Suspects"! Worth a watch, but won't be returning to it over and over again! ... More

Posted by SkullKassidy at 12:49, 16 September 2008 | Report This Post

One of the coolest movies ever.

A Great Movie. With one of the most memorable openings ever. With cool twist and original screenplay. Highly recommended. ... More

Posted by nc_jj at 23:44, 16 May 2008 | Report This Post

Slick, stylish & entertaining, but a bit confusing.

. ... More

Posted by David G at 18:20, 15 February 2008 | Report This Post

RE: Swordfish

Good fun film!  cool action, some good one liners and one of the best explosions I have ever seen in a film!  Shame they pulled it from cinemas straight after 9/11! ... More

Posted by Super Hans at 22:43, 09 May 2006 | Report This Post

RE: Halle berry (tongue hanging out)

Entertaining but nothing worth remembering. 3(just about)/5. ... More

Posted by BobaJango at 21:43, 09 May 2006 | Report This Post

RE: Halle berry (tongue hanging out)

L: alistairmclean81 Good action with great CGI and good breasts-i mean twists. ... More

Posted by maffew at 20:56, 09 May 2006 | Report This Post

RE: Halle berry (tongue hanging out)

I thought it was very cool. Travolta was interesting, and the music throughout was awesome. Some very good ideas initially, and well followed through with some great cinematography and use of CGI, and I was a little baffled as to the lack of interest at release. I think it had something to do with 9/11? Surely the beef should have happened i] ago then... ... More

Posted by Monkey Wrench at 18:49, 09 May 2006 | Report This Post

Halle berry (tongue hanging out)

Good action with great CGI and good twists. ... More

Posted by alistairmclean81 at 11:05, 09 May 2006 | Report This Post

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