Today, I am starting a series on movies that have made significant statements about the Information Age or Cyberspace.  I believe that their central themes are worthy of serious thought by Information Technology leaders. I, also, think that their portrayal of these issues to the public is important to understand and appreciate.  In many ways, perception is reality.

My first subject is the 1992 thriller Sneakers. The Internet Movie Database describes its plot as “Complex but lighthearted thriller about computers and cryptography, government and espionage, secrets and deception and betrayal.”  Wikipedia offers far more details.

It features themes that are as relevant today as they were seventeen years ago.  The movie discusses hacking, cracking, cybercrime, organized crime’s and governmental use of cracking, the Information Age, and the combination of experts required to engage in information operations of either the offensive or defense type.

What is most notable about this wonderful movie is its distinguished cast. I think that it may be the first movie on these subjects that attracted Academy Award caliber stars.  Surprisingly, the movie features Robert Redford, Sidney Poitier, Dan Aykroyd, River Phoenix, Mary McDonnell, and Ben Kingsley.  Each turns in a performance that is serious, credible, and genuine.  Robert Redford, in particular, treats the role, even with significant comic overtones, with a legitimacy that overflows onto the entire cast. 

One story line that I especially appreciated was the one that showed how the villain (Ben Kingsley) effectively played the mob, Warsaw Pact governments, and the US government against each other.  His comments about how the future will be dominated, ruled, and controlled by non-governmental actors like his organization using the Internet as their weapon seemed eerily predictive of today’s multi-national terrorist organizations.

In a lot of ways, this film was way ahead of its time.  Its themes stand up today just as well as they did when it was released.  We still have not come up with effective ways to counter these threats to our society… if anything the story is more plausible now than ever.

Do you like this coverage of thought provoking information age related movies?  Which movies do you suggest?  What do you think the first great computer movie was?

That is my Information Technology Thought of the Day (ITTOD) for June 1, 2009 ©Scott Coughlin .

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