Indie Gems: Disconnect

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A lesson on how the internet can ruin your life.
 
 
I love the internet. Obviously as a blogger I spend a great deal of time on it. But I'm not naïve enough to think the net is always the safest place to be. I've been in the situation where I've given too much information away and regretted it later. (Though not to the extreme that some of the characters in this film do) So as I blog under my pen name, I have to say this film spoke to me several different ways.
 
This film revolves around several different people and how the internet effects their lives. There's a reporter, Nina(Andrea Riseborough) doing a piece on boy named Kylem (Max Thieriot) who's part of a sex website where people pay to see him do things. A boy named Ben (Jonah Bobo) who becomes a victim of cyber-bulling when two of his classmates Jason and Frye (Colin Ford and Aviad Bernstein) decide to create a fake profile under a name "Jessica" and share intimate details of his life. Then there's Ben and Jason's fathers Rich and Mike, (Jason Bateman and Frank Grillo) who both have to deal with handling their sons. We also have a couple, Derek and Cindy (Alexander Skarsgard and Paula Patton) who become victims of identity theft when someone steals their bank account information online.
 
I loved this film. I felt it was a very real depiction of the consequences one can suffer. It makes you want to hug Ben and tell him things will get better. It makes you want to bring Derek and Cindy together to talk about their problems instead of seeking solace elsewhere. It makes you want to warn Nina that she's getting in too deep. Unfortunately for us, we don't get to do any of that. I felt the ending was a let down because it offered little to no resolution.  But the rest of the film is so great, that I can't let the crappy ending ruin the rest of it. It reminded me of The Butterfly Effect in a way, I love that movie up until the last 5 minutes. I just shut it off before then.
 
Grade: B+
 
Memorable Quote: "What father wouldn't care?" - Rich (Jason Bateman)

Comments

  1. s.November 8, 2013 at 8:54 AM

    Andrea Riseborough and Skarsgard in one movie? Oh, I'm gonna need to see this one!

    ReplyDelete
  2. ruthNovember 8, 2013 at 11:09 AM

    Glad you saw this, seems like this film was overlooked that barely anyone saw it. It's a shame as it's quite good and boy it really made you question about the reality of people being so addicted to their tech devices! Yeah, the 'no resolution' ending is a let down, but I thought the performances were very good, esp. Andrea Riseborough who's phenomenal. I had no idea she was British until I saw her IMDb page after.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamNovember 8, 2013 at 11:49 AM

      She was definitely the stand out. I felt so bad for her character, she just wanted to help.

      Delete
  3. Alex WithrowNovember 12, 2013 at 6:53 PM

    I wasn't expecting to like this one, but I really enjoyed it as well. It got a little too didactic there at the end (all the slo-mo kind of bothered me), but that's a minor qualm. Grillo is such a beast.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamNovember 13, 2013 at 7:32 AM

      The slow mo definitely ruined part of it to me. Way too dramatic.

      Delete
  4. JoshNovember 20, 2013 at 6:57 PM

    I really should watch this, even if it's only to see Riseborough in something decent (after so-so films like Shadow Dancer, Oblivion and Welcome to the Punch).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamNovember 20, 2013 at 8:31 PM

      You definitely should. Even with the ending being kind of a let down, it's still a good watch.

      Delete

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