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Click above to purchase "Antitrust Special Edition" at
amazon.com
Antitrust
Special Edition
review by Zach B.
Rated PG-13
Studio: MGM
Running Time: 108 minutes
Starring Ryan Phillippe, Rachel Leigh Cook, Claire
Forlani and Tim Robbins
Written by Howard Franklin
Directed by Peter Howitt
Retail Price: $24.98
Features: Audio Commentary with Director Peter Howitt
and Film Editor Zach Staenberg, "Antitrust: Cracking The
Code" Documentary, Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary,
Alternate Opening and Alternate Ending Sequence with
Optional Commentary, Everclear Music Video "When It All Goes
Wrong Again", Theatrical Trailer
Specs: 1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen, English 5.1 Dolby
Digital, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby
Digital, French Subtitles, Spanish Subtitles, Chapter Search
(16 Chapters)
There's one thing that makes "Antitrust" stand out and
actually made it a little noteworthy when it debuted at the
start of the year 2001, but if you get past it, you may
actually like it. Actually, you may like the movie for this
reason or hate it to death, either way, there's a good
chance you'll mock it. Now class, repeat after me. TIM
ROBBINS = BILL GATES. Say it with me now. TIM ROBBINS
= BILL GATES. DAMNIT, IT'S SO SCARY. GARY WINSTON (Tim
Robbins) LOOKS JUST LIKE BILL GATES. AND WINSTON'S LIFE IS
SIMILAR TO IT. IT'S FUN, IT'S CREEPY, IT'S "ANTITRUST"!
Sorry for that crazy outburst, but I just had to say it.
So yes, this is "Antitrust", MGM's new "cyber-thriller". I
guess it was good to get the bad out of the way before the
good - this being MGM's first release of the year 2001,
critics bashed it and it bombed at the box office. However,
after it, they scored an instant hit with "Hannibal" and got
a good gross for "Heartbreakers". The bad films and weird
trailer turned me off from the film, but after watching it,
I have to say "Antitrust" isn't that bad. It's no
masterpiece, but it is pretty fun and entertaining... I was
pretty surprised.
Some of the film's background with the Winston character
is clearly inspired by Gates, but the film's story is a run
of the mill paranoid thriller. Winston owns NURV, basically,
the Microsoft in this film - a giant computer monopoly. Milo
Hoffman and Teddy Chin have just graduated from Stanford and
plan to start their own company, as they do appear to be
incredibly bright with programming. Winston invites both of
them to work for NURV. Teddy refuses, but Milo easily
accepts the job and becomes a key player in Winston's new
operating program. However, Teddy soon dies mysteriously,
and Milo begins to become really paranoid. He begins to
unravel the mystery of his murder as well as others. But
NURV couldn't be involved... or could they? (Believe it or
not, I thought this movie was simply a screenwriter's idea,
but there's a site in the movie called
Skullblocks, and
upon going to the site, the film is actually really, and I
mean REALLY loosely based on it).
The film really did draw me in at the start (that did
surprise me), but as it went on, around the fifty minute
mark, it just get a little dull for me. It starts out pretty
well with corny jokes, interesting scenarios and some fun
moments, but then it tries to hard to be a thriller with a
lot of paranoia and a bunch of crazy situations, and by the
end, it gets pretty stupid. While the last half is not so
great, it's still enjoyable. I just felt the movie lacked
some logic and was not as even as it could have been.
Basically, the film tries too hard to be a thriller. It's
just a fun movie, but in that respect it gets the job done
because it is entertaining. While you can mock the movie,
you can enjoy what happens, you do get into it pretty easily
and wonder what happens next despite the fact you probably
already know. This movie will never win any awards (maybe
Razzies), but audiences do like this sort of thing, it
produces the kind of stuff people like. Though it did not
interest many at the theater, people are sure to catch it at
the video store and will have a good time when watching it
(or not).
The acting is fine for this movie. Robbins is excellent
and fun as Bill Gates look-alike Gary Winston, while Leigh
Cook (who has little screen time and still gets second
billing), Phillippe and Forlani fit the characters
perfectly. They play it out nicely. The script, again, is a
bit rocky. There are fun moments, monotonous moments and
stupid moments, but it needed a lot more development. I did
like the ending though, despite the stupid dialogue, but the
ending is well shot with some good music against it. The
direction is actually pretty solid for the movie, and the
editing, from Oscar® winner Zach Staenberg, is actually
really good. Maybe flawless, in fact. Though I didn't find
this movie to be thrilling, the appropriate shots shown are
used at the perfect times (at least I think so) so if it was
thrilling, it'd work out perfectly. There's just a nice flow
and clean look to the editing. There are also nice camera
shots as well.
So if you're looking for a fun movie for a rainy Saturday
afternoon, or a fun movie in general, check out "Antitrust"
It's not a good thriller, but the fun, corny factors make it
a good ride.
MGM has delivered an incredibly sharp transfer for
"Antitrust". Presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen,
colors are well saturated and vibrant. I noticed some
shimmering here and there and a piece of dirt or grain now
and then, but I didn't find those annoyances very
distracting. Exterior and interior shots look superb, the
lighting and dark tone to the film are represented greatly
in this transfer. Definitely one of the finer transfers I've
seen in awhile.
MGM has also included Dolby Digital 5.1 tracks in
English, Spanish and French, as well as French and Spanish
subtitles (that in typical MGM fashion). There are some nice
surrounds throughout the film, and the music makes great use
of the channels. During the "thrilling" moments tension is
built nicely with some key surrounds and music. I was pretty
impressed with the Dolby Digital mixes, and I think you will
be too. Also included are French and Spanish subtitles.
MGM has delivered a nice special edition of "Anitrust",
despite the critical and financial failure it was. Leading
the disc is an Audio Commentary with Director Peter
Howitt and Zach Staenberg. Howitt is pretty
enthusisastic about the film and is eager to talk, while
Staenberg does have his share of comments, though Howitt
dominates the track. This track is really good, as Howitt
has some really good stories and insightful information
about the film's production. Staenberg also has some good
info. If you liked the movie, don't miss this track. One of
the better ones I've heard of lately.
Antitrust: Cracking The Code is a full frame
"documentary" (more like featurette) that has interviews
with the cast and crew, such as Phillippe, Howitt, Robbins
and more. It's pretty promotional, and features behind the
scenes clips and films footage. You may like it, you may
not.
There are Six Deleted Scenes and an Alternate
Opening and Alternate Ending Sequence. It's
pretty obvious why they were cut, but Howitt gives his
Optional Commentary to provide further insight. Very
nicely done and some interesting scenes as well. The scenes
are in non-anamorphic widescreen and pretty much editied,
but still rough with markers at the top.
Finally, there's the Everclear Music Video "When
It All Goes Wrong Again" in full frame (which is a bit nutty
if I say so myself) and the Theatrical Trailer in
anamorphic widescreen and two channel sound.
I was pleasantly surprised how much I liked "Antitrust",
and MGM has delivered a pretty fantastic package for the
movie. If you've seen the movie and liked it, it's worth to
add to your collection. If you haven't seen it give it a
rent... you may be pretty surprised.
 (3.5/5 - NOT included in
final score)
 (4.5/5)
 (4/5)
 (3/5)
(3.5/5, NOT an average)
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