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Anti-trust

Threat advisory: High - High risk of entertaining activities

Movie propaganda

Truth can be dangerous... trust can be deadly.

Milo Hoffman (Ryan Phillippe) is an idealistic young computer genius with an artist girlfriend, Alice Poulson (Claire Forlani), and a golden future. He's about to launch a start-up company with his friend, Teddy, when he's recruited by Nurv, a multi-billion dollar corporation, run by his professional hero, Gary Winston (Tim Robbins).

Winston takes a personal interest in Milo. He needs his brilliance to stay ahead of the field in the race of convergence. There is no second place. For Milo, it is a dream come true, a chance to become a legend in his own right. It's hard to disappoint Teddy, but Nurv's offer is too good to refuse.

With a talented new colleague, Lisa Calighan (Rachael Leigh Cook), Milo is soon caught up in the exciting challenge of realising Winston's vision. Winston is an inspired mentor and no problem remains unsolved for long. But new developments are brought to Milo with such speed and frequency, he begins to doubt their source.

Tragedy strikes and Milo's doubts become suspicions. It looks as if the company will stop at nothing to win. He investigates and the consequences become more and more unnerving, until there is no one left to trust and this 21st century David stands alone against a powerful Goliath.

Persons of interest

Ryan Phillippe .... Milo Hoffman
Claire Forlani .... Alice Poulson
Tim Robbins .... Gary Winston
Rachael Leigh Cook .... Lisa Calighan
Tygh Runyan .... Larry Banks
Ned Bellamy .... Phil Grimes
Douglas McFerran .... Bob Shrot
Zahf Hajee .... Desi
Howard Franklin .... Screenwriter
Peter Howitt .... Director

Cinematic intelligence sources

Awards and film festivals:

Cinematic Intelligence Agency Trenchcoat Awards 2002

Studios and distributors:

MGM * 20th Century Fox

Intelligence analyst

Special Agent Matti

Theatrical report

Bill Microsoft Gates.

They clear themselves from any legal recourse by mentioning the supergeek, as if to say "this character can't be Bill Gates because he talks about Bill Gates as another person". Of course that's not fooling anyone because there's only one software firm that monopolises the world market, produces second rate programs, hides the source code, engages in anti-competetitive practices and has been under investigation by the USA Department of Justice. What Anti-trust does is show the kind of megalomania that goes on behind the locked doors of an evil empire building nerd.

As for being a thriller, Anti-trust is the direct descendant of Hackers, the 90s teen flick that gave the world Zero Cool and a laptop with 32 thumping megabytes of RAM, and Sneakers, the 90s teen flick that gave the world... um... yeah. Anyhoo, the game of hero being manipulated by big corporation, discovering the big secret, getting caught and finally beating them at their own game is time-worn. This film offers nothing new to the genre but it does have a pleasant feel to it, brought about most by the casting of Ryan sex on legs Phillippe as the lead geek. Geeks do not look like Ryan. There is way too much sex appeal for Milo and his friends to be geeks.

Not that I'm complaining, mind you, I'm just pointing it out so that people will take me seriously as a critic.

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(Mutter, mutter, mutter...)

Meanwhile, Tim does a great job as the evil overlord bringing innocence, worldliness and passion to one of the least attractive human beings on the planet. Likewise, Claire does great things as the Mata Hari, manipulating Milo and his friends like a pro. It's interesting to note that Alice/Rebecca is the only baddie to be redeemed, probably because the hero couldn't fall in love with a woman who was all bad. It would tarnish his reputation to be so gullible and enhances it that his love allows her to find the goodness inside herself.

Anti-trust is a fun flick that the whole family can enjoy, for the action, for the geek toys and for the eye candy. Dig in!

PS: Don't forget to check out the Microsoft site for many wondrous pieces of software that don't work.