Rating of
3/4
Technological Thriller with a Message
Chris Kavan - wrote on 09/08/13
Disconnect really takes compelling subject and gives us a powerful set of stories, interconnected, that really drives home the message. In this case, the concern is technology - technology that is supposed to make it easier than ever to connect with our fellow man but, in many cases, it has the exact opposite effect. Cyber-bullying, identity theft, pornography and just not connecting with your family - these are the pitfalls and perils of a 24-hour online world.
There are three main stories here: two friends play a prank on a fellow student that goes too far, a couple deal with the fallout of having their identity stolen and a reporter works on a story involving teens working on an adult website only to get too close to the subject. The dad of one of the cyber-bullying kids works as the investigator in the young couples identity theft case. The father of the bullied student is a lawyer who sits in on the case of the reporter when things get too hot - the interweaving may at first seem like a stretch, but it helps drive the story.
The most interesting story to me is the fallout from cyberbullying. With social media being so prevalent today, it's a fact parents don't pay enough attention to just how much this aspect affects daily life. Rich Boyd (Jason Bateman in a rare dramatic role - one that he shouldn't ignore given how well things turn out) is the lawyer father who hardly connects with his son (or daughter). After talking to a girl he thinks is in his class, Ben (another great performance from Jonah Bobo) sends a compromising photo only to have it spread across his school leading to a suicide attempt. Jason (Colin Ford), one of the two responsible - feels the guilt eat away at him, especially when he continues the ruse by communicating with Rich. It sends a very powerful message and one that is easy to forget - being cruel and humiliating people over social media can (and has) led to real suicides amongst teens. If there is a case to make cyberbullying a punishable offense, this film certainly helps make it.
The second story concerns Cindy and Derek Hull (Paula Patton and Alexander Skarsgård) - who find their identity stolen and how it affects their lives. Bank accounts and credit are gone in a flash - while the police and banks are slow to help them out, they turn to Mike Dixon (father of Jason) to help them investigate the matter. When they think they have found the man responsible (Michael Nyqvist in a quiet role) they plan to turn the tables on him - not realizing just how far they are willing to go.
The final story involves reporter Nina Dunham (an excellent turn from Andrea Riseborough) as she works on a story exposing the life of a young man, Kyle (a likewise excellent role from Max Thieriot) and the life he is living working on an adult site where he earns "gifts" performing for men or women. The rapport between Riseborough and Thieriot is amazing, even if I think this story could have been fleshed out a bit more. Still, as Nina gets deeper in the story - and closer to Kyle - it threatens her work and she begins to break down.
All three stories have a meaningful impact. Director Henry Alex Rubin is best known for documentaries (particularly Murderball) and he brings a documentarian's eye to the process. My biggest hangup on the film is that the ending(s) leave a bit too much hanging - I would have preferred a bit more closure - but even with things left open, you can't help but be drawn in by the stories. This is a very topical and important film. It may not have got the attention it deserved when it first came out but you owe yourself to watch this one - especially as technology becomes more and more of a driving force in our lives.
