Michael Mann (Heat and Public Enemies) loves rooting around in the thematics of machismo, and his latest Blackhat, while firmly entrenched in contemporary strife, borrows from Wild West tropes as high-level international anti-terrorist forces cut a deal with a convicted hacker (Chris Hemsworth) to enlist his aid in the global search for a cyber-extremist who is seemingly willing and able to bring the world to its knees. With all of our pre-conceived notions about hacker-types, there is a question of assumptions and expectations that Blackhat will have to overcome (Can we truly buy a computer genius who looks like a piece of thunderous beefcake?) on its way to the weekend box office crown. (Opens wide Friday) (R) Not screened in time for review
This article appears in Jan 7-14, 2015.