Swordfish

This stylish action heist movie makes cyberspace and theft look glamorous. Uber bad guy Gabriel Shear (John Travolta) convinces good-guy superhacker Stanley Jobson (Hugh Jackman) into helping him steal billions of dollars in illegal government funds (code-named "Swordfish") to finance a ruthless anti-terrorism unit. Bullets fly, explosions rock, and unexpected objects take flight as cops and politicians crumble beneath a web of spectacular action. Good pacing and intriguing characters drive the overflowing testosterone blitz to an above average level of fun. Director Dominic Sena ("Gone In 60 Seconds") lets a few obvious flaws slip through and doesn't quite know how to milk optimal suspense from big action sequences, but he does catch tons of nuance from his actors. It's not such a bad trade off. Hugh Jackman ("X-Men") is an absorbing actor to watch and promises to add his name to the list of Hollywood's leading men. Jackman has a trace of Robert Mitchum in his demeanor that's a welcome replacement to the smirky delivery of Bruce Willis, yesterday's leading man action hero.
Rated R. 99 mins. (B) (Three Stars)