THE NET

STARRING: Sandra Bullock, Jeremy Northam, Dennis Miller, Diane Bakcer, Wendy Gazelle, Ken Howard, Ray McKinnon, Daniel Schorr

1995, 118 Minutes, Directed by: Irwin Winkler

Description: Sandra Bullock plays a computer expert victimized by sinister cyberforces who steal her identity for reasons unknown.  — Amazon.com

The film that computer users love to hate. Why? Probably because they can't do any of the things which are done with computers in this movie, but would probably like to. This film is a terribly technophobic affair: Sandra Bullock's entire identity is wiped out by a bunch of malicious criminal hackers, planes are made to crash, wrong prescriptions given to patients, etc.

To be honest, as anyone who has ever hung out on the Internet will tell you, none of this is really possible although some hackers (and the media who report on them) would like you to believe so. The plot? Sandra Bullock, a loner who hangs out more with Apple Macs than humans, is targeted by a bunch of dark conspirators after she accidentally receives a virus than enables them to break into virtually every computer system you can think of. They make her wanted by the police, give her another identity, everything. Come to think of it: not even your pocket calculator is safe from these guys!

It's basically The Pelican Brief with lots of running around dark and deserted alleyways. There are some dull bits as the movie loses its pace, but all in all it is the type of movie you'd forget instantly after watching it.

Sandra Bullock is great as the hunted and resourceful woman. She can't seem to put a foot wrong. The chief baddy pursuing her is strangely sympathetic and the film features more computer screens and consoles than you'll ever see in a movie - if that sort of thing turns you on, that is.