An all-star cast (early days for some) for a decently solid and well-written, light-hearted, early (just pre-internet take-off) hacker/encryptions/spy caper. Martin Bishop (Redford) leads a stereotypically motley crew of specialists in testing security systems in banks, business, etc. He is asked by the NSA to conduct some “off the books” activities for a very attractive fee and jumps at the chance for a decent pay-day for himself and the team. Of course, it doesn’t pan out the way he expects and evolves into a series of twists and turns and further adventures. A good yarn, well-told but one which does show its age a little – 1992 was just before the internet really took off in the mainstream and the tech / hacker / spy movies really got into their stride. Despite that, or maybe because of it, the characters are stronger and the story moves at a good pace with interesting shifts and realignments along the way. It does seem to undersell it if it’s described as a solid evening’s entertainment, but that’s exactly what it is and (thankfully) won’t lose anyone in the tech jargon on the way.
Director: Phil Alden Robinson
Cast: Robert Redford, Sidney Poitier, Dan Aykroyd, Ben Kingsley, Mary McDonnell, River Phoenix, David Strathairn
Prime and YouTube
2 hour 6 min (PG-13)