BLACKHAT
US, 2015, 133 minutes, Colour.
Chris Hemsworth, Leehom Wang, Wei Tang, Viola Davis, Yorick van Wageningen.
Directed by Michael Mann.
Blackhat is certainly topical. The title refers to computer hacking and hackers. And that is certainly topical, with experiences in recent months where Sony Pictures was hacked on the occasion of the release of The Interview, suspects, amongst others, North Korea which was being satirised in the film. There have been a number of successful hacking’s of American government and military sites.
This is not a film for Luddites. If the audience is not sympathetic to computers, there will be far too much detail, too much hacking, too much hacking the hackers, and trying to deal with information technology and communication. But, this screenplay does strive to provide enough information to make what is going on intelligible (more or less).
The audience can see, right from the opening credits, that hacking has explosive results, even literally with government and company installations. As we watch the progress and process of the hacking, we see it leading to destruction in both China and in Chicago. Chinese authorities as well as the FBI come in on the case, one young expert recognising that a program being used was created by a friend who is, in fact, in jail for hacking crimes. FBI authorities (including Viola Davis) agree to get him released temporarily to work on the sabotage but he is particularly strong minded, makes no deals unless he sets the terms. Out of prison he comes.
He is Nick Hathaway, played by Chris Hemsworth, taking time off from being Thor. He is a big man, an abrupt manner, taciturn, not particularly relational, clever at his work, his investigations, his conclusions. Just when we thought he couldn’t have a relationship, he is attracted by the sister of one of the Chinese agents. She becomes a significant contributor to the solution of the problems.
The investigation takes place in Chicago but then all and sundry move to China, recognising the hacker but also detecting the influence of some of his clients, which leads to violent shootouts in China. Nick and the Chinese girl then travel to Malaysia visiting and examining a drive river bed where tin is being mined and which is about to be flooded, making tin scarce and so raising profit margins. And the action moves to Indonesia, to a crowded Jakarta, where the climax takes place, violent confrontation during a crowded public ritual ceremony.
The film was directed by Michael Mann, well known in the past for Miami Vice, making films every couple of years, best known for The Last of the Mohicans, Heat and, more recently, Public Enemy. His visual style is idiosyncratic, using muted light with action often taking place at night or in darkness, coming to bright light in the Malaysians sequences, a great relief, and in some of the Indonesian sequences. Because it is dealing with IT, it is more of a cerebral thriller, although there is quite some action, shootouts and fights.
1. The title? The reference to hackers? Link with actual cases in the United States, China? Companies, manufacturing, crops, metal exploration? Profit?
2. Cyberknowledge and the audience knowing enough, the film’s screenplay giving enough information? Words? Visuals?
3. The international scene, in the United States, China, Malaysia in the mines, Indonesia and the cities? The musical score?
4. The work of Michael Mann, his success with thrillers? His visual style, action, editing and pace? Dark and muted photography? Night, the contrast with daylight in Malaysia? Darkness and moods?
5. Credits, the visuals of the hacking, the detail, the process, the explosions? The impact in China? In Chicago?
6. The authorities on their response, America, the FBI? Carol Barrett, stern, and the other officials? Consulters? The programmer, the codes, his remembering the work of Nick Hathaway, Hathaway in prison?
7. Nick, in prison, his attitudes, his abrupt and blunt dealing with people, laying out the conditions the deals? Getting out, the conditions? Working with his friend? With Carol? His attitudes towards her and her responses?
8. Investigation, the computer details, the details of the programming, his knowledge, expertise, recognition of information?
9. The Chinese agents, go why, working with Dawei and Lien, their work, in the United States, information, the decision to go to China, the collaboration, the relationship between the Chinese and the FBI?
10. Nick’s relationship with Lien, Dawei and his comment about his sister’s happiness?
11. The hacker, intentions, the range of clients?
12. The Carol, stir attitudes, wary of the, becoming involved, the surprise of her being killed?
13. The thugs, the vicious viciousness of the attacks, the shootouts, fight and action? Daweis’ death? The effect on his sister? Nick and advising her to grieve later?
14. The plans, the decision to go to Malaysia, the visuals of the river bed, information about the tin mining, the flooding of the river bed, the ruthless exploitation destruction? Tin and the demand? Profit?
15. Going to Indonesia, the client and the $74 million in the bank, arranging its disappearance? Lien visiting the bank, charming the official, the transfer? The information, tracking the client, his character, the phone calls, meeting in public, rituals and ceremony, the following the client and his bodyguard, Nick’s preparation, taping the weapons? Lien and her various jobs? The ground, following, the bodyguard turning, the fight, study, the confrontation with the client?
16. Nick and the client, the discussion, knowledge, profit from tin, the transfer of the money, the shooting, death and escape?
17. The insight into the world of hacking, theft, the response of governments, authorities, calling of experts, action?
