Blackhat

Given its timely themes of computer hacking and strained U.S./Chinese relations, and the fact that it has Michael Mann, one of the best action film directors working today, at the helm, you would think that Blackhat would have all the makings of a kinetic thrill ride.  Then you remember that the movie is being dumped in the dead of January, and there's probably a good reason for that.  Turns out, this is an overlong and dull "thriller" that has little of Mann's trademark style.  It's not going to kill the guy's career, but it's a pretty big stumbling block.

I can't talk about this movie without talking about the problem that it literally forces in our faces - The casting of Chris Hemsworth in the lead role as an expert computer hacker named Nick Hathaway.  Think for a minute about the computer experts you know in real life, or the guys who spend all their time sitting in front of a monitor, clicking away on a keyboard.  Do they look anything like Hemsworth?  Do they take their shirt off as frequently as he does in this movie?  Are they experts in kicking ass and taking names as Hemsworth is sometimes required to?  Not only does he not look remotely like someone who would devote his life to computers, but his performance is comprised solely of the same blank stare and monotone voice, no matter what may be happening to him.  Now, I'm not saying Hemsworth is a bad actor, or can't do range.  I think he can have a strong career outside of playing Thor in the Marvel Universe.  If you don't believe me, just check him out in Ron Howard's Rush.  But he's been so awkwardly cast here that even he seems surprised that he's in the movie at times.

Outside of its miscast lead, Blackhat just never raises much tension, despite a promising start.  A shadowy hacker causes a nuclear power plant in Hong Kong to explode in the film's opening scene.  We actually go inside the circuits of the plant's control system, and see the wires light up as the hacker takes control over the system, and causes the core to overheat.  This is a cool effect to see, and sets us up for an exciting time - a promise that the remainder of the film betrays.  After the cyber attack on the power plant, the same hacker makes his way into the stock exchange, and sends soy prices skyrocketing.  These incidents create an uneasy alliance between the U.S. and Chinese governments in the hopes of tracking down who is behind the cyber crimes.  This is where Hemsworth's Nick comes in.  He's a hacker himself, serving a prison sentence, and the government needs his expertise, because he helped create the program that the current mystery hacker is using.

Nick's team is comprised of an FBI agent who acts as his superior (Viola Davis, criminally underused and given little to do here), and a Chinese investigator named Chen (Wang Leehorn), who chose Nick for the job, because they were roommates back in college.  Also along for the ride is Chen's sister (Tang Wei), though for the life of me, I can't imagine why she's part of the group other than to give the movie some eye candy, and to provide Nick with a love interest.  Turns out Wei is beautiful enough to fill the first requirement, but struggles with the second, as Hemsworth and her share such low chemistry that it barely registers on the screen.  They get a couple scenes where they get romantic, but the camera always cuts away, or they are interrupted.  It's like the screenplay cares even less about their relationship than we do.

The team goes on a globetrotting adventure to track down the mystery hacker, as they chase the villain across China, Indonesia and Malaysia.  You would think that this would lead to some interesting or even beautiful scenery, but you would be sadly mistaken.  The movie spends so much time in cramped rooms with the main characters hunched over keyboards and talking in monotone voices, we may as well have never left the U.S., since we get to see so little of the exotic locales.  This being a Michael Mann film, you would at least expect some amazing action scenes and stunts, and while they're handled competently, they just don't excite.  Most surprising, they're very rare in this film.  The movie seems to think we're more interested in Chris Hemsworth spewing tech talk, and trying to act like he knows what he's talking about.  The only thing in this movie that lets you know you're watching a Mann film is when it gives us some of his trademark beautifully shot nighttime city scenes, usually cast in cool blue colors.  It's something he's been doing since Miami Vice hit TV around 30 years ago, and while it's still effective, it's losing its edge just a little.

Blackhat has none of the energy, suspense or thrills we expect from the director.  At times, it almost feels like the work of a first-time filmmaker trying to imitate the style of a master.  I'm certain he will recover from this, and make a great movie again someday.  The sooner the better, I say.

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