The Net (1995)

A computer programmer stumbles upon a conspiracy, putting her life and the lives of those around her in great danger.

Director:

Irwin Winkler

Writers:

John Brancato, Michael Ferris

Stars:

Sandra Bullock, Jeremy Northam, Dennis Miller

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sandra Bullock	...	Angela Bennett
Jeremy Northam	...	Jack Devlin
Dennis Miller	...	Dr. Alan Champion
Diane Baker	...	Mrs. Bennett
Wendy Gazelle	...	Imposter
Ken Howard	...	Bergstrom
Ray McKinnon	...	Dale
Daniel Schorr	...	WNN Anchor
L. Scott Caldwell	...	Public Defender
Robert Gossett	...	Ben Phillips
Kristina Krofft	...	Nurse #1
Juan Garcia	...	Resort Desk Clerk (as Juan García)
Tony Perez	...	Mexican Doctor
Margo Winkler	...	Mrs. Raines
Gene Kirkwood	...	Stan Whiteman

Storyline

Angela Bennett's a software engineer type who works from home and has few friends outside of cyberspace. Taking her first vacation in years, she becomes embroiled in a web of computer espionage.

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Plot Keywords:

computer | identity | identity theft | computer hacker | chat room | 

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Taglines:

Escape is impossible when you're caught in the net.

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for violence, some sexuality and brief strong language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

28 July 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

La red

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles Convention Center - 1201 S. Figueroa Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$22,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$10,037,745, 30 July 1995, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$50,727,965

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$110,627,965

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation, Winkler Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

114 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR SDDS (8 channels)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The operating system Angela uses throughout the movie is Mac OS 7.

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Goofs

Sandra claims to be in Cozumel but when she returns to the hotel from the hospital and insist she that she hasn't checked out we see the computer and it clearly states that the hotel is in Cancun.

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Quotes

Ruth Marx: [to Angela] Just give us the disc and we'll give you your life back.

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Connections

Referenced in The Benchwarmers (2006)

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Soundtracks

Blanca Rosa
Written by Alfredo Lopez

User Reviews

'The Fugitive' Meets AOL

Nostalgia may play a large part of my positive feelings towards this film as I watched it repeatedly on video with my younger sister as a teen. Back then "the net" was a new and largely undiscovered frontier, and this film romanticized hackers and the seemingly mysterious world wide web.

I would liken this to a less ambitious version of 'The Fugitive', a film that released two years prior (and by most accounts a superior thriller). Much of what happens in the course of this film is standard fare, but it is presented with a semblance of realism and never seems to hit any lulls or real snags in rhythm despite the frenetic pacing. The plot isn't entirely plausible or devoid of clichés, but it remains interesting from start to finish, and Bullock carries the role well.

There are scattered scenes that show astute directing on the part of Irwin Winkler, though some of the secondary characters give uneven performances. However, Bullock does an admirable service at depicting a frumpy insular woman uncomfortable with her own sexuality and outer beauty. Her character is both resourceful and vulnerable at once, and it's a fresh pace to see a female lead with some layers to peel back in a genre dominated by men. Dennis Miller is very likable in his role, and ably acts the part with a more downplayed version of his real life persona. He was my favorite character by far and brought a lot of warmth to the role.

I'm usually very critical of any movies I see, and am generally turned off by standard Hollywood fodder, but there is a certain charm to 'The Net' that I can't deny. I liked it in '95, and I like it again almost twenty years later. Like visiting an old friend, there's a familiarity to it that is so hopelessly 90's and so reminiscent of a bygone era--the inception of the internet age--that it carries a certain weight to me unmatched by the multitude of forgettable popcorn thrillers of the decade.