Swordfish MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +2 Content: -3

In an old Marx Brothers comedy, Swordfish is the secret password to get into an illegal nightclub. In this film, Operation Swordfish is an undercover operation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency that unexpectedly earned millions in legitimate money. Tucked away in multiple banks, the bonus slush fund has turned to billions. Superspy Gabriel Shear (John Travolta) needs the money to finance his activities but, in this world of computer banking and passwords, he needs the best hacker in the world to get it. Stanley Jobson (Hugh Jackman) spent two years in jail for hacking into the FBI computers and now, getting within 50 feet of a keyboard violates his parole. But Gabriel’s assistant, Ginger (Halle Berry) convinces Stan that helping them will get him both freedom and the one thing he wants most, his daughter. But FBI agent Roberts (Don Cheadle), former head of the cyber-crimes task force, spots Stan on a security monitor and may spoil the whole affair. This tense, bank-heist action story keeps everyone guessing and should attract action fans.

Gabriel is an amoral character, willing to lie, cheat, steal and kill whomever, to accomplish his goal. For him, the end justifies the means, which brings up an unusual brand of patriotism. And there is plenty of killing, including a few scenes of innocent hostages wrapped in explosives that go off. One repeated scene shows a city block of cars and police devastated, in slow motion, by an explosion. Some of the deaths appear caused by police who don't believe Gabriel's ruthlessness. Car chases with multiple shootings, wrecks and explosions also fill the screen. Stan's ex-wife is re-married to a porn filmmaker and is always shown drunk. While no sex is shown, Ginger sunbathes topless and a few women at a party enter a swimming pool in thong underwear. Along with the mayhem, the film is filled with obscenities and numerous strong profanities. This SWORDFISH is not a good catch.

Preview Reviewer: Paul Bicking
Distributor: Warner Bros., 4000 Warner Blvd., Burbank, CA 91522