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Swordfish (2001)

 -  Action | Crime | Thriller  -  8 June 2001 (USA)
6.4
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Ratings: 6.4/10 from 114,911 users   Metascore: 32/100
Reviews: 521 user | 161 critic | 33 from Metacritic.com

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.

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Title: Swordfish (2001)

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4 wins & 6 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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Senator James Reisman
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Melissa
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Assistant Director Bill Joy
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Holly Jobson
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Torres (as Angelo Pagán)
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SWAT Leader
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Axel's Lawyer
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Agent
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Agent
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Storyline

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. Written by Jeff Cross <blackjac_1998@yahoo.com>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

Log on. Hack in. Go anywhere. Steal everything. See more »

Genres:

Action | Crime | Thriller

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence, language and some sexuality/nudity | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Official Sites:

Country:

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Language:

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Release Date:

8 June 2001 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Passwort: Swordfish  »

Filming Locations:

 »

Box Office

Budget:

$80,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$220,064 (Austria) (2 November 2001)

Gross:

$30,393,888 (Europe) (16 November 2001)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

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Color:

(Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Zach Grenier's character Bill Joy is named after the co-founder and former chief scientist of Sun Microsystems, Bill Joy. See more »

Goofs

Most references to cryptography and computer security, and the ease with which they can be defeated, are fantasy. The filmmakers did this so as not to enable criminals. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Gabriel: You know what the problem with Hollywood is? They make shit. Unbelievable, unremarkable shit. Now I'm not some grungy wannabe filmmaker that's searching for existentialism through a haze of bong smoke or something. No, it's easy to pick apart bad acting, short-sighted directing, and a purely moronic stringing together of words that many of the studios term as "prose". No, I'm talking about the lack of realism. Realism; not a pervasive element in today's modern American cinematic ...
See more »

Crazy Credits

The last credit reads "Final Password: Vernam", which is part of the website game. (See Trivia). A Vernam cypher is a method of encrypting a message. See more »


Soundtracks

"Play to the Music"
Written by Andrew Spence
Performed by Organic Audio
Courtesy of Tummy Touch Records Ltd./Nettwerk Productions
See more »

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User Reviews

 
First Viewing Was A 'Blast'
20 August 2006 | by (United States) – See all my reviews

Here's a film I really liked the first time, and was totally turned off on the second viewing as the Hollywood bias machine was in high gear again, and you can guess in what director (left or right). Anyway, two things remained the same: John Travolta as "Gabriel Shear" was riveting as an anti-terrorist terrorist. The explosion scene where people are flying sideways is awesome, particularly in the sound department if you have surround system. Oh, and yes, Halle Berry and her figure was on display in this film and quite a sight. Wowzer!

Some of this script is a takeoff on Dog Day Afternoon, which Travolta's character re-enacts a role from that famous '70s film. "Shear" talks about that movie during the film.

I almost got discouraged watching this in the first half hour because there is so much computer terminology that I was lost. However, if you find yourself in a similar spot, take heart because that that ends after that first 30 minutes and is no longer a problem.

Credibility and bias aside, it's still a fun movie for at least one viewing, with that early bomb scene most memorable.


38 of 58 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

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