Antitrust (2001)

A computer programmer's dream job at a hot Portland-based firm turns nightmarish when he discovers his boss has a secret and ruthless means of dispatching anti-trust problems.

Director:

Peter Howitt

Writer:

Howard Franklin

Stars:

Ryan Phillippe, Tim Robbins, Rachael Leigh Cook

2 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ryan Phillippe	...	Milo Hoffman
Rachael Leigh Cook	...	Lisa Calighan
Claire Forlani	...	Alice Poulson
Tim Robbins	...	Gary Winston
Douglas McFerran	...	Bob Shrot
Richard Roundtree	...	Lyle Barton
Tygh Runyan	...	Larry Banks
Yee Jee Tso	...	Teddy Chin
Nate Dushku	...	Brian Bissel
Ned Bellamy	...	Phil Grimes
Tyler Labine	...	Redmond
Scott Bellis	...	Randy
David Lovgren	...	Danny
Zahf Paroo	...	Desi (as Zahf Hajee)
Jonathon Young	...	Stinky

Storyline

This movie is the fictional story of computer programming genius Milo Hoffman after graduating from Stanford and getting out into the competitive world of computer software. In his contemplation of where to begin his career, he is contacted by Gary Winston whose character is loosely based on Bill Gates. Winston is the CEO of a company called NURV, and they are on the brink of completing the global communication's system, Synapse. They need Hoffman to help them meet their launch date, so after much thought and with the full support of his girlfriend Alice, he accepts the job. Tragedy soon after strikes and Milo becomes suspicious of the company he has been wrapped up in. He learns that trusting anyone could be a mistake, and that nothing is as it seems.

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Plot Keywords:

startup company | boy wears eyeglasses | character repeats someone else's dialogue | man wears eyeglasses | reference to mission impossible | 

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Taglines:

Truth can be dangerous... Trust can be deadly.

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some violence and brief language

Did You Know?

Trivia

IP addresses assigned to Winston's satellites are part of the non-routable (to the Internet) 10.x.y.z Class A subnet, indicating a private network.

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Goofs

Although clearly set in Portland, Oregon, Milo and Lisa are shown pumping their own gas, which is against the law in Oregon. However, since they aren't yet on the run, they might be across the river in Vancouver, Washington.

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Quotes

Ken Cosgrove: How's it going?
Building 20 Guard: Big night. Switched from tea to coffee. Brought new meaning to my work.

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Crazy Credits

Closing disclaimer: Stanford University has not endorsed this motion picture and no filming took place on the Stanford campus. There are a number of other entities and persons with names which may be the same or similar to those used in this motion picture. However, this motion picture is entirely fictional and (except for minor incidental references) is not intended to depict or refer to any other existing entities or persons and any such references are purely coincidental.

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Alternate Versions

The R1 DVD contains all the deleted scenes mentioned above, except for the "Sleeping with the enemy" sex scene.

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Connections

References ReBoot (1994)

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Soundtracks

Beautiful People
Written by Gaz Coombes, Robert Coombes, Danny Goffey and Michael Quinn
Performed by Supergrass
Courtesy of The Island Def Jam Music Group and EMI Records Limited
The Island Def Jam Music Group is under license from Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

There was Potential

I saw this movie not expecting much. While I'm not disappointed in the movie, I felt that more could have been explored in the themes of the movie. Where is the line between self-interest and greed? What creates innovation? What stifles it? What are the consequences of uncontrolled self-interest?

I also found problems with some of the little details (having known lots of computer people, I get picky). For example, all of the code shown is simple html; wouldn't they have used other computer languages? Also, I know the Vancouver area quite well (where Antitrust was filmed) and sometimes, it got too obvious. (See below)

Additionally, some of the other characters' backgrounds could have been developed further.

Yet, the sets were impressive! The interiors did convey the appropriate atmosphere. The use of the Chan Centre at the University of British Columbia- good choice! However, the NURV campus was much too obviously the Burnaby campus of Simon Fraser University. (The aerial shots gave it away).

Still, it was a decent movie, all things considered.

Details

Official Sites:

MGM

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 January 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

Antitrust

Filming Locations:

Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,486,209, 15 January 2001

Gross USA:

$11,328,094

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$18,195,610

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Hyde Park Entertainment, Industry Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

DTS SDDS Dolby SR

Color:

Color (DeLuxe)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1