Film Title
The Net
Director
Irwin Winkler
Starring
- Sandra Bullock as Angela Bennett
- Jeremy Northam as Jack Devlin
- Dennis Miller as Dr. Alan Champion
It isn’t the most compelling or exceptional thriller out there, yet The Net is competent entertainment filtered through a techno edge and having the luminous Sandra Bullock at the heart of it.
Angela Bennett is a shy and awkward computer analyst, whose life is largely confined to being indoors and debugging viruses in games and usually software of some sort. Her whole existence is through the Internet, where she is a talented worker and voracious scourer. One day, Angela is sent a piece of software that strangely allows her to access covert files. Thinking it is just another glitch as she has seen countless of them before, she doesn’t pay a lot of thought to it. Meanwhile, the man who sent her the disc is killed after something causes his plane to crash. Angela, has taken a small vacation to Mexico, as it is her first holiday in over two years and something of a break from her sheltered and self-imposed isolation. While there, she meets the rakish Jack Devlin, who takes an interest in her that she finds flattering due to her mousiness. He is in fact a contract killer dispatched to retrieve the disc that she shouldn’t have seen and kill her before she can alert anyone. Devlin works for a very mysterious organisation who want the disc so they can use it for their shifty and alarming means. After seducing her as well as swiping her photo identification, he attempts to go ahead with his plan to kill her. Thankfully, Angela becomes wise that there is something not right and flees before can kill her. Upon returning to America, Angela is shocked to discover that all records of her existence have been erased. To top this revelation off, the sinister powers that are tracking her have replaced her files with evidence that points to her being a known criminal. She soon has both the police and shady Devlin in pursuit of her as she attempts to outrun them. Desperate to reclaim her life and bring down the people responsible for this, Angela must use all her ability and decisiveness to uncover just what these cyber criminals want and why the disc is of such importance to them.
The Net attempts to emulate the Hitchcock staple of the innocent person caught up in something unexpected and I must say, Irwin Winkler does a credible enough job in getting that vibe across. Not saying that this film is anywhere near the iconic nature and mastery of Hitchcock, but it’s a decent enough stab. While some of the computer technology depicted in The Net is obviously dated, the message of being careful and how easy it can be to stumble onto something much darker than you thought comes through clearly. And if anything, it sort of rings with a timely essence as now the digital age is in full flow, strangely predicted to a certain degree in this film. From the constant quick cuts of computer jargon and membranes, stylistically The Net is very good at pulling you in to its world of all things cyber and dangerous. If anything sort of lets the movie down it is the pace; at the start it is a little slow to get going, before eventually kicking into a thriller. But even then, some plot points are skated over a bit and fall to the background because the film then goes a bit crazy on the speed. And it must be said that a lot of the film is pretty predictable( you can tell straight off the bat that Northam is a wrong un from the get go), and yet I was still very entertained for reasons I will speak of next. The breathless action at least in part offers a distraction from the seen it all elements there, constituting some tense scenes of Angela being pursued and doing everything she can to survive along with a cool scene of her showing her mettle and playing them at their own game. A nifty score of unraveling beats and ominous intentions keeps the film largely entertaining as a slice of techno thriller.
Sandra Bullock is the glue that holds The Net together. Her infinite charisma and relatability stand her in good stead when playing the coltish heroine on the run. The vibrant Bullock has enough range and appeal to be convincing in the part and the movie’s best asset. She projects an intelligence and ordinariness that I think many people will find endearing, and I certainly found it just that. I mean how can you not like Sandra Bullock? She’s a bundle of talent and she is a strong part of this movie that keeps you glued, even when it gets over the top. Jeremy Northam represents the main villain contingent as a James Bond style assassin, only if 007 was bad to the bone. Northam does good work with the material he is given, though the shortage of meat on his character noticeably affects his work, even with him on charming form. Dennis Miller fares very well as Angela’s only ally who is at first bewildered by everything and then comes around to her ideas of corruption and conspiracy.
So it isn’t going to win any awards, but to pass the time The Net is pretty slick and tense, even if it has an air of predictability hovering over it.
Rincewind said:
It is a good one, definitely out of date now but very nicely and hi tech cool when I saw it on the release. But Sandra is great here.
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vinnieh said:
As dated as some it looks, it sort of acts as a precursor to now in that everyone usually has a computer and is usually never off it.
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Rincewind said:
Oh yes very true.
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vinnieh said:
It is the digital age at its apex now.
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beetleypete said:
I enjoyed this as a telly watch. Then again, I really like Jeremy Northam, and think he’s a fine actor.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Winslow_Boy_(1999_film)
Cheers mate. Pete.
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vinnieh said:
He is a very commendable actor. This part may not be his best, but he’s still fine.
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Laura Beth said:
I love Sandra Bullock as an actress. I definitely want to watch this one again soon. My favorite movies that have her in the cast: Speed (1994), While You Were Sleeping (1995), A Time to Kill (1996), Miss Congeniality (2000), The Proposal (2009), The Blind Side (2009), and The Heat (2013).
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vinnieh said:
I too really love Sandra Bullock, though I need to see more of her films. I thought she was sublime in Gravity.
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raistlin0903 said:
Loved this movie, it is a real classic. Sure, just like you mention in the beginning, it might not be one of the best thrillers ever made, but it is still highly entertaining. Great post!
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vinnieh said:
I wasn’t expecting it to be a masterpiece, just a good slice of entertainment. Sandra Bullock really sold it as the smart and sympathetic lead.
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JJAzar said:
My mother’s a fan of Sandra Bullock and she loves thrillers. I’ll have to recommend this one!
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vinnieh said:
If your mother likes those two things, she will most certainly enjoy The Net. May I say, your mother has extremely good taste. What do you think of Sandra Bullock?
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JJAzar said:
She’s talented. I remember her most for the Blind Side. She did an ace job. Not my top favorite actress, but she has chops.
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vinnieh said:
Thanks for reminding me I need to see that movie. For me, her best work was in Gravity.
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JJAzar said:
The Blind Side is fantastic, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it! Oh, the fact that she was able to pull off such a stellar performance with one other actor alongside her in Gravity is remarkable.
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vinnieh said:
I’m bumping The Blind Side up my watch list now. I know what you mean about Gravity, and considering that the sets where CGI rendered, she made you believe what was going on through her movements and reactions. I truly love that movie, almost everything is of a stellar quality. If you look at my review index, there is a review of Gravity in there.
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JJAzar said:
Different films of course, but how did you stack up Gravity against Interstellar? I don’t see Nolan’s film in the Index, so perhaps you haven’t seen it yet.
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vinnieh said:
I haven’t seen Interstellar yet, so I can’t really comment.
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JJAzar said:
In my opinion, Interstellar was a fine film, if a bit joyless. Nolan makes quality films, no doubt (Dark Knight was my top movie until I saw Inception, which still stands as my favorite ever), but he has a habit of brooding. Interstellar lacked the charm of the Batman trilogy or Inception, which kept it from standing out as Gravity does. I’d put Gravity on top if I were to compare the two.
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vinnieh said:
I really like Nolan too, darkness seems to be his forte as it where. I found with Gravity that while it was a beautiful and tense ride, it had a really emotional tone that came through.
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vinnieh said:
Here’s the link to the review. https://vinnieh.wordpress.com/2015/01/10/gravity/
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JJAzar said:
Thanks mate, I’ll check it out.
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vinnieh said:
I like discussing movies with you, you have a good eye for things.
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JJAzar said:
And I enjoy talking movies with you. You’re thorough and eloquent in your reviews, which sets you apart from the rest.
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vinnieh said:
Well mighty thanks for that encouragement. I just enjoy talking about movies and putting my thoughts out there.
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ninvoid99 said:
This was an OK film but if you watch it now. Wow, it will feel very dated considering how far we’ve gone with technology.
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vinnieh said:
Yeah, the Internet has come on leaps and bounds since the film. Though it was still pretty entertaining and had Bullock on sympathetic form.
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ninvoid99 said:
And she looked good in a bikini. 🙂
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vinnieh said:
She looked gorgeous and still does look lovely.
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ninvoid99 said:
INDEED!!!!!!
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vinnieh said:
I don’t know anyone who dislikes Sandra Bullock.
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ninvoid99 said:
Well, I didn’t think she deserved that Oscar for The Blind Side as I thought it was an awful film and her performance wasn’t great as many said. I do like her still as I thought she deserved it more for Gravity.
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vinnieh said:
I can’t really say anything because I haven’t seen The Blind Side. I loved her in Gravity, her best performance in my eyes.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
This wasn’t my favorite Sandra Bullock movie, but I still really enjoyed it. 😊 Great review as always Vinnie!
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vinnieh said:
Sandra Bullock has that ability to raise the material in films, especially weaker ones. She keeps them watchable.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
She can literally act her way out of a paper bag!
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vinnieh said:
Most definitely. I need to watch more of her movies. I’ve seen a good few, but there are some blind spots.
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fragglerocking said:
I liked this one but don’t think I’d do it a 2nd time. Sandra Bullock is great in most things she does.
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vinnieh said:
Bullock brings a level of energy and depth to a film, even when the film isn’t particularly shining.
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fragglerocking said:
Didn’t like her comedies when she was a police lady much.
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vinnieh said:
I like her comedy work but really think her dramatic performances are equally as good.
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keepsmealive said:
I remember seeing this one. You’re right – it was good, but not great. And fair play to it!
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vinnieh said:
I thought it did a competent job and remained very watchable.
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Meg Sorick said:
This film was great in its time. And even with the dated tech, the film is still exciting. I love Sandra Bullock, too.
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vinnieh said:
I don’t hold its dated qualities against it as I get that the Internet was in its infancy upon release. I found it acted as an interesting prediction on how technology would become so prevalent. Sandra Bullock is charming and just so lovable.
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Meg Sorick said:
Without a doubt. She’s so versatile
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vinnieh said:
There are people who say she’s just good in comedy, but I disagree. I think she is very effective in dramas too.
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Meg Sorick said:
Absolutely. She was amazing in Gravity.
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vinnieh said:
For me, Gravity is her best performance. Considering she’s on her own with the focus just on her for long periods, she plays it extremely well.
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Meg Sorick said:
That’s what impressed me too. So little interaction with other actors, it’s all her.
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vinnieh said:
And the part required both physical and emotional demands that she delivered strongly.
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Meg Sorick said:
Yeah, she’s a very athletic lady! My hero!
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vinnieh said:
She really went for it.
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Mario said:
Sandra Bullock is great! I loved this film, but it sure is dated. Nice review
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vinnieh said:
I really love Sandra Bullock, so full of personality.
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alexraphael said:
I’ve no idea how anyone can’t like Sandra Bullock.
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vinnieh said:
I know, it does seem to be law of the land that everyone likes her.
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ruth said:
Happy New Year Vin! This is such a guilty pleasure movie for me. It’s SO dated but still entertaining. Love miss Bullock and Jeremy Northam is such a hot baddie 😉
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vinnieh said:
Yep, guilty pleasure is a good way to summarise The Net. Bullock is full of vitality and likability isn’t she? And I know many ladies agree with you about Jeremy Northam.
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