PURPOSE

US, 2002, 86 minutes, Colour.
John Light, Jeffery Donovan, Paul Reiser, Mia Farrow, Hal Holbrook, Megan Dodds.
Directed by Alan Ari Lazar.

Purpose is an interesting film in retrospect. It was made at the time of the dot com burst. The plot take us back to the bubble and the initial enthusiasms. The film focuses on a clever young man, his hopes to do something with the Internet to help people, his obsession with his work at the expense of his girlfriend, and his dependence on an ambitious and fickle friend.

The young man attends the lectures of a provocative professor at Stanford. Encouraged, he goes to see a millionaire rancher. The rancher bets him that he cannot stay on a difficult course for 30 seconds. He does and gets the money. He is helped in his enterprise by his two close friends, two computer geeks. As he goes to the wealthy friend, appoints him as manager, and relies on him far too much. His friend takes him to see a finance expert, organizes a board, but overspends to make an impression, and eventually conspires to oust him from the board and his own company.
The film opens with this day, the young man driving to Mexico in despair. The film reaches this point again and moves to the young man deciding to regain his company. He learns lessons from an old fisherman who wants nothing more from life than satisfaction, not worrying about managing what he does not need.

John Light is the young man. Jeffrey Donovan the deceitful friend. The supporting cast includes Mia Farrow as the finance expert, a ruthless operator, Hal Holbrook as the rancher, and Peter Coyote as the young man’s lawyer father.

Other films on the theme include Antitrust and The Social Network.

1. An interesting film about the dotcom bubble and burst? In retrospect, the experiences of the conpanies at the beginning of the 21st century? the financial situation in the US with these new companies?

2. The Californian settings? Stanford university? University residence? Financial offices? The musical score? The songs?

3. The introduction to John Elias? In class, the test by the professor, John achieving the balance? Others admiring him? His relationship with Lisa? Her music? His discussions with the professor, the need for finance, his ambitions to set up a company, his worthwhile motivations?

4. The visit to the ranch, meeting the crusty rancher, the horses, the dare, sitting on the horse for 30 seconds, getting the money? The later meetings with the rancher, his personality, cousin of the professor, his taking the side of John, coming to the board meetings?

5. John and Robert, the relationships with Lisa? Robert and his wealth? John asking his advice, Robert doing a shrewd deal? His self confidence? His going to Anna, not waiting for her to invite them in, giving her the information, the deal, the setting up of the board? His changing John’s style, the new suit, taking him to the club, introducing him to the women, filming him in the back of the car, the new office, the decoration? Overreaching in his ambitions?

6. John and his work on the program, his two friends? The percentages? The build up to the demonstration, seemingly successful, the failure? The reports on the media? John’s father seeing it? John’s disappointment, combined with Lisa’s departure and her anger with him? John’s degradation, the women, the car, sex, drugs, returning to the club and not admitted?

7. Lisa, her music, at the clubs, her love for John? Seeing the film on the computer? Her leaving John, no explanations? His later discovery of the E-mail?

8. Robert, his needing more money, scheming, partnership with Anna, deciding to oust John’s friends, stacking the board meeting, summoning John, the rancher and the professor being present, John losing the vote about a public listing of the company, his losing the vote as head of the company? The takeover of the company, money made?

9. John’s friends, the insults by Robert, his turning them out, John’s visit, and their anger with him? His call from Mexico, his solution to the problems, the working together?

10. The development of the project, using Lisa’s music? Success? Humiliating Robert?

11. The character of the professor, his classes, his interaction with students, his insight into John? Relationship with the rancher? The investment? At the board meetings?

12. Anna, her skill as, her manipulation, her ruthlessness, and the board?

13. The opening with the seeming success, John’s failure, the drive to Mexico, the chase in the streets, in jail, released, meeting the fisherman on the beach, the life-changing conversation? His return, more modest, better ambitions?

14. His relationship with his parents, the meal, the father’s health condition, a lawyer in Iraq, his collapse, hospital? His support of his son?

15. The title of the film? Seeing it in connection with other films of this kind, Antitrust, The Social Network?