Disconnect (B or 3/4 stars)
'Disconnect', directed by Henry-Alex Rubin, is an uneven, but mostly-compelling 3-part drama on how cyberspace can shatter lives with the technology that is now available ... to everyone. The strongest of Disconnect's 3 narrative strands involves Ben Boyd (Jonah Bobo), a 15 yr. old loner whose world turns upside down after 2 class mates, Jason & Frye (Colin Ford, Aviad Bernstein) decide to humiliate him for fun: they create a girl ("Jessica") who claims to love Ben's music & asks him to send her a nude photo of himself. When Jason & Frye circulate the unfortunate photo at school via mass-texting, Ben can't handle the shame & attempts suicide. While Ben's mother (Hope Davis) grieves at his hospital bedside, his father, Rich (Jason Bateman) conducts an investigation as to if cyber bullies did this to his son. But during his search, Rich slowly but surely becomes aware of just how much emotional distance actually exists btwn. him & his son. Guilt sets in.
The 2nd most effective narrative strand involves an attractive TV reporter, Nina Dunham (Andrea Riseborough) who, while looking for a story that will give her fame/fortune, logs into a chat room with Kyle (Max Thierot), who performs sexual favors on webcam. But she doesn't want to watch him masturbate or anything ... she's just wants to "talk". Having pitched a story about researching interactive porn sites to her editor, Nina gets Kyle to reluctantly agree to an anonymous on-camera interview. Kyle believes that Nina actually cares about him & his future away from this lowly lifestyle. Thing is ... she DOES care about him. But once her story airs, the FBI come in & the story becomes about who's exploiting who; and Nina's 'good intentions' may have actually made things worse for Kyle.
The least successful narrative strand involves Derek & Cindy Hull (Alexander Skarsgard, Paula Patton), a couple emotionally paralyzed by the death of their toddler. She tries to "communicate" with her husband, but he's cold. To cope, he turns to online gambling. Meanwhile, she joins a chat room, where she "befriends" a man (Michael Nyqvist) who is coping with a death of his own. When the Hulls' identities are stolen (credit card theft), Derek hires a detective (Frank Grillo) to locate the perp. But after learning that the police won't act without hard proof, he & Cindy travel to the address of the alleged identity thief to confront him. Drama ensues.
The1st narrative strand is easily the best. There's poignancy in the chats btwn. Ben and "Jessica" (really Jason). Jason realizes that he actually has a lot in common with this kid that he is punking (both feel that their fathers don't love them). Perhaps Jason even feels remorse that he's caught-up in this elaborate humiliation on him. There's also poignancy in scenes involving Ben's father, his sister, & how they react to his coma. I liked most of the sex cam segment with the TV reporter & Kyle, but the last scenes felt rushed & muddled. That's a shame because I was all aboard where this plot was going until it derailed, a bit. And the Derek/Cindy segment never really works. Paula Patton & Alexander Skarsgard are fine. There is sufficient, authentic emotional pain conveyed by the actors. But then I didn't believe that these 2 characters could be married, either. Something just felt ... off. And where their plot strand takes them isn't all that satisfying, either.
The acting saves the film. Jonah Bobo is quietly superb as tragic Ben. His sullen expressions & actions make you feel like you know who this kid is, exactly. Jason Bateman also impressed me; stepping away from the usual comedic roles with which he is associated. He effectively portrays a father who thought he had an emotional grasp on his family until the tragedy hits it & he realizes his subtle, but life-altering failures. Max Thieriot captures the bravado of a young guy who lets it all hang out online for $$. Andrea Riseborough really impressed me as the smart reporter who freaks once she realizes that she may have gone too far in 'helping' the webcam guy. Her emotions get the better of her. And Colin Ford shows the damaged side of a young kid who does some woefully regretful things.
So yeah, flaws aside, unevenness aside, 'Disconnect' still dug into me. A good movie takes hold & doesn't let go. That's what happened, here. Though not every story ends satisfactorily (with respect to where the stories were heading), I couldn't wait to see where they'd all go. The film's message is not groundbreaking (how impersonal relationships have become since the internet came into existence; and how damaging it could be), but it's still expressed in clear, involving ways. Disconnect's non-judgmental approach to its characters & subject matter makes it more thought-provoking than any lesser movie could accomplish.
The 2nd most effective narrative strand involves an attractive TV reporter, Nina Dunham (Andrea Riseborough) who, while looking for a story that will give her fame/fortune, logs into a chat room with Kyle (Max Thierot), who performs sexual favors on webcam. But she doesn't want to watch him masturbate or anything ... she's just wants to "talk". Having pitched a story about researching interactive porn sites to her editor, Nina gets Kyle to reluctantly agree to an anonymous on-camera interview. Kyle believes that Nina actually cares about him & his future away from this lowly lifestyle. Thing is ... she DOES care about him. But once her story airs, the FBI come in & the story becomes about who's exploiting who; and Nina's 'good intentions' may have actually made things worse for Kyle.
The least successful narrative strand involves Derek & Cindy Hull (Alexander Skarsgard, Paula Patton), a couple emotionally paralyzed by the death of their toddler. She tries to "communicate" with her husband, but he's cold. To cope, he turns to online gambling. Meanwhile, she joins a chat room, where she "befriends" a man (Michael Nyqvist) who is coping with a death of his own. When the Hulls' identities are stolen (credit card theft), Derek hires a detective (Frank Grillo) to locate the perp. But after learning that the police won't act without hard proof, he & Cindy travel to the address of the alleged identity thief to confront him. Drama ensues.
The1st narrative strand is easily the best. There's poignancy in the chats btwn. Ben and "Jessica" (really Jason). Jason realizes that he actually has a lot in common with this kid that he is punking (both feel that their fathers don't love them). Perhaps Jason even feels remorse that he's caught-up in this elaborate humiliation on him. There's also poignancy in scenes involving Ben's father, his sister, & how they react to his coma. I liked most of the sex cam segment with the TV reporter & Kyle, but the last scenes felt rushed & muddled. That's a shame because I was all aboard where this plot was going until it derailed, a bit. And the Derek/Cindy segment never really works. Paula Patton & Alexander Skarsgard are fine. There is sufficient, authentic emotional pain conveyed by the actors. But then I didn't believe that these 2 characters could be married, either. Something just felt ... off. And where their plot strand takes them isn't all that satisfying, either.
The acting saves the film. Jonah Bobo is quietly superb as tragic Ben. His sullen expressions & actions make you feel like you know who this kid is, exactly. Jason Bateman also impressed me; stepping away from the usual comedic roles with which he is associated. He effectively portrays a father who thought he had an emotional grasp on his family until the tragedy hits it & he realizes his subtle, but life-altering failures. Max Thieriot captures the bravado of a young guy who lets it all hang out online for $$. Andrea Riseborough really impressed me as the smart reporter who freaks once she realizes that she may have gone too far in 'helping' the webcam guy. Her emotions get the better of her. And Colin Ford shows the damaged side of a young kid who does some woefully regretful things.
So yeah, flaws aside, unevenness aside, 'Disconnect' still dug into me. A good movie takes hold & doesn't let go. That's what happened, here. Though not every story ends satisfactorily (with respect to where the stories were heading), I couldn't wait to see where they'd all go. The film's message is not groundbreaking (how impersonal relationships have become since the internet came into existence; and how damaging it could be), but it's still expressed in clear, involving ways. Disconnect's non-judgmental approach to its characters & subject matter makes it more thought-provoking than any lesser movie could accomplish.