TAKEDOWN
US, 2000, 90 minutes. Colour.
Skeet Ulrich, Russell Wong, Angela Featherstone, Donal Logue, Christopher Mc Donald, Tom Berenger, Jeremy Sisto, Amanda Peet, Ethan Suplee.
Directed by Joe Chappelle.
Takedown is the story of hacker Kevin Mitnick, a celebrity criminal in the 1990s who ultimately was tracked down by the FBI, arrested, served time in jail, was eventually released and subsequently ran his own computer security firm as well as writing a book about his experiences.
This film was made prior to his release and is based on a book by Tsutomu Shimomura and New York journalist John Markoff. Markoff’s articles are frequently shown through the film and Shimomura is a central character (played by Russell Wong).
Kevin Mitnick was a strange personality, very skilful in his computer knowledge, seeing himself as some kind of revolutionary (anticipating Julian Assange and capitalising on the First Amendment for free speech). As played by Skeet Ulrich (Touch, Scream, Ride with the Devil), he is an introverted, sometimes brooding character, full of initiatives and intuitions, travelling the countryside and manipulating computers – because he could. On the other hand, Russell Wong portrays Shimomura as an adviser to companies, yet devising various programs that were able to hack into other programs. The film raises the question as to whether Shimomura was any better than Mitnick.
Angela Featherstone portrays Shimomura’s girlfriend, Julia, who helps him in trying to track down Mitnick. Donal Logue is Alex Lowe, Mitnick’s colleague. The authorities are represented by Christopher McDonald? as Agent Mitch Gibson as well as by Tom Berenger as an FBI authority.
There are supporting performances by Amanda Peet as a waitress at the beginning of her career, Ethan Suplee as a computer expert, Jeremy Sisto as a computer contact for the FBI (made the same year that he portrayed Jesus in the American telemovie of that name).
The film was directed by Joe Chappelle, prolific TV director especially for such series as CSI Miami and The Wire.
The film Hackers had appeared as early as 1994 and hacking into computers has become a staple of many of the thrillers of the 21st century, especially those involved with the CIA and the FBI.
1. An interesting story? True story? Audiences’ attitudes towards hackers, towards Kevin Mitnick? The information that after serving time he was released, has written a book, and is a computer security expert with his own company?
2. The range of settings, California, Seattle, the Carolinas? The film as a piece of Americana about an American criminal?
3. The portrait of Kevin Mitnick, his age, experience, his skill with computers? The 1990s and the stage of computers? Development? His hacking into programs, able to break codes, download programs? His enjoyment of manipulating information? The temptation for money but his not being interested in that? Doing things because he could? His friendship with Alex, confiding in him, their sharing experiences? His hiding out with him? With Alex’s girlfriend and her hesitation? His being on the run, his changes of names? Going to Seattle, the encounter with Karen, the attraction towards her, explaining things to her, her lack of sympathy for hackers? His angry leaving? Finding that the FBI were after him, at his house, seeing Mitch Gibson? His fleeing, going to Carolina? The contacts with Alex? His confrontations with Shimomura? Their not meeting? The contacts by phone, his altering information about Shimomura’s cards, his reputation? The articles in the New York papers? The messages from Carolina? His being tracked down, his being caught?
4. Mitnick in jail, the visit from Shimomura? His anger with Shimomura? Asking why he should be in prison and Shimomura not?
5. Shimomura, his work, his relationship with Julia? His consultancy, his programs and explanations? Acting as viruses? His being contacted by the authorities, his giving testimony – and Alex and Kevin watching it on television? The rivalry with Mitnick? His determination to catch him? Agent Gibson, Mc Coy Rollins? Going to Seattle? Seeing Mitnick? Following him to Carolina, the help of Julia, the wariness of the FBI? Meeting Dan, getting his help in South Carolina? The pinpointing of Mitnick’s centre? Mitnick going into universities, his charm and being able to use computers? His finally locating him, uploading the data and tricking Mitnick? The final confrontation, Shimomura going to jail to visit him?
6. Mitch Gibson, his knowledge of computers – and not? Seeing Mitnick as a criminal? Trying to get information, addresses, tracking him down? Collaboration with the FBI? The final confrontation and arrest?
7. Mc Coy Rollins, the interest of the FBI in what Mitnick was doing? The threat to security? His not wanting Shimomura and Julia interfering? The collaboration at the end?
8. Lance Petersen, his discussions with Mitnick and Alex, his disguise, the agent, and his phone being hacked?
9. Karen, the attraction to Mitnick, their time together, his focus on hacking, her reacting?
10. Dan, his expertise, his caution, helping?
11. Audience interest in hacking, computers – and Takedown as a kind of summary of what was happening by the end of the 20th century? Anticipation of hacking in the 21st century?
