Review of Blackhat (2015) by Jesse W — 02 May 2015

A gigantic fail from the get-go that further proves that Michael Mann has lost his spark and his digital, hand-held filming style actually cheapens the movie and looks fake-as-shit! I was so excited for this movie based on the trailer and was willing to forgive the obvious miscasting of Hemsworth as a HACKER, but even after a half-assed excuse for why he's so ripped; he never sells the role and it's never explained why he's capable with weapons and hand-to-hand combat.

The story is the film's biggest flaw with flat, unengaging "characters" who either spew technical, authoritative, or cliched jargon to pad the runtime and a dull, convoluted plot that you just don't care about.

Not to mention the FORCED love-interest that awkwardly inserts itself in the movie and not for one second did I buy the two as lovers. The film does pick up momentum after a well-filmed shoot-out because you are so thankful that things are happening, but it doesn't excuse the excruciating, previous hour of film.

Blackhat and everyone involved feels like they are on auto-pilot and it's just barely above worthless thanks to some intense violence that comes far too late. It also features one of the most telegraphed, "HEY, I'M ABOUT TO DIE" scenes I've ever seen in my life; absolutely hysterical.