Disconnect Review
CAROLINE: The movie Disconnect is out in limited release but has a great cast including Jason Bateman, Hope Davis and Paula Patton.
RYAN: I love all of them, but I didn’t get to screen this one. Tell me everything.
CAROLINE: Well, I won’t tell you everything, since there’s much to spoil. But basically it’s got three stories that ultimately intersect and it’s really dark and depressing.
RYAN: Sounds like a glowing endorsement.
CAROLINE: Ha, I don’t mean to diss it because it’s very well made and well acted. It’s from the director who made that documentary Murderball a few years ago. But it’s all about the internet and the horrible things that happen on it, like bullying, identity theft, sexploitation, etc. Let’s just say it’s not uplifting.
RYAN: But the the cast is good?
CAROLINE: Yes, everyone is great. Jason Bateman and Hope Davis play the parents of the bullied kid and Paula Patton is in the identity theft section. And you kind of jump from story to story, but it never feels disjointed. I was actually quite engaged throughout, and the movie stayed with me for several days.
RYAN: It sounds really interesting to me.
CAROLINE: It’s enjoyable and each story is interesting, for sure. The guy who played Paula Patton’s husband was probably the weakest link, though he was fine overall. Each section has its strong points; I just wish the movie were a little more hopeful. But maybe they didn’t want it to be. I mean, LBH, the internet can be a dark and scary place.
RYAN: To be sure. What’s the third section about?
CAROLINE: That one is juicy. It’s about a reporter who tracks down a teen online who does live sex shows on his webcam and she exposes the story. Turns out he’s living in a house with other teens all doing the same thing. And get this? The guy who runs the operation is played by Marc Jacobs.
RYAN: Seriously?! Is he acting now?
CAROLINE: Evidently. His role isn’t huge but he does fine in it. It was just so funny to see him on the big screen.
RYAN: Totally. What’s your bottom line?
CAROLINE: I know I said this movie is depressing and it is, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t like it. I was very into it while I was watching it, but it’s hard to fully recommend it since it’s a downer. But it’s very compelling and well acted and certainly relevant for our times. No need to rush to see it on the big screen, but let’s call it a rental. And LBH, I’ll basically see anything Jason Bateman is in!
