Review – Sneakers

Of the technology-intensive political thrillers, this one’s the best I’ve seen. Perhaps that’s because it goes back to the counter-culture origins of hacker-dom rather than regaling the audience with a collection of obnoxious teenage antics. Both the drama and the comedy work equally well, which makes this a rare film indeed. Robert Redford, Sidney Poitier, and Ben Kingsley head up a solid cast, bringing more warmth and depth to their characters than can usually be found in movies in this particular genre. The ensemble, armed with an intelligent, witty script, do a terrific job telling the tale of a group of security professionals that runs afoul of the government, the mob, and a seemingly endless parade of conspiracy-theory standbys. A working knowledge of the clichés of the cult of surveillance helps but is not required. Anyone looking for a little clever comedy-drama should find this a rewarding experience. Worth seeing