I have a powerful movie for you this week. It's Disconnect (2012, Rated R, Available On DVD).
I'm always a bit disappointed when I find a movie such as this and it's been around for a while, but I've never heard of it. And the majority of you, Dear Readers, say that you haven't heard of these movies. What keeps a movie this good from being watched by a bazillion people and getting nominated for some awards?
In Disconnect we have a family (parents and two teens), a married couple trying to recover from the death of a child, a TV journalist investigating online porn sessions involving minors, and a father and son on their own because the boy's mother died. What do they have in common? A disconnect. A disconnect from the people they need the most, while they need to disconnect from their computers and smart phones and other tech time-and-attention sucks.
Every character's story is compelling, but I want to focus on the parents with two kids. The father is a lawyer who pays little attention to his family, especially his son. Jason Bateman plays the father. I never thought of Jason Bateman as a strong actor until I saw him in Juno. I've seen him in quite a few films since then. Sometimes he plays a silly character (he is funny), but he's much better with serious, dramatic roles, such as this father. When he finally learns that his son has been cyber-bullied and who is to blame, the film reaches its climax with some great acting from Bateman and some excellent cinematography that includes slow motion and stop-action shots.
I find this film very moving. Disconnect earns The Janie Junebug Seal of Highest Approval.
I would not show this R-rated movie to children, but maybe teens starting with 13 or 14? It's up to you. You might not want them to hear the profanity and see a very graphic scene of self-violence, but if anything would make a kid lose the desire to cyber-bully, it could be this movie. Or would it teach a kid with a propensity toward bullying how to go about doing it successfully?
'Tis a conundrum, as is most of life.
You'll also learn a lot about identity theft from this movie and that, ultimately, you can't hide what you do on your computer.
I hope you have a beautiful weekend, and be sure to connect with your loved ones.
Infinities of love,
Janie Junebug
Mike Dixon: Everything you do, someone out there can see.
Hi Janie - sounds interesting ... and one perhaps I'd watch sometime ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteCheers, Hilary!
DeleteSounds like a great movie to rent, Janie. Thanks for the review. "You can't hide what you do on the computer"...great comment.
ReplyDeleteIt's a quotation from the movie, and it's true.
DeleteHi, Janie!
ReplyDeleteYou wrote:
<< What keeps a movie this good from being watched by a bazillion people and getting nominated for some awards? >>
For more than six years I have been asking that same question about the recordings I feature on my blog. I have introduced hundreds of great ones that never made a dent in the trade charts. There are just as many fine movies that slipped through the cracks and never received the recognition they deserve. Count me in as another reader who never saw or heard of Disconnect. I enjoy tense, dramatic films involving sets of characters on a collision course, ordinary people dealing with extraordinary circumstances.
You wrote:
<< you can't hide what you do on your computer. >>
OOPS! I just clicked on the ad in your right column and set up an account on FilipinoCupid.com. My profile already received 20 hits from ladies who promise to "luv u long time." I'm having second thoughts.
You wrote:
<< 'Tis a conundrum, as is most of life. >>
I always use a conundrum just to be safe.
Happy Thursday to you, dear Janie Junebug!
Always carry a conundrum.
DeleteI added it to my quay-way...the picture on Netflix is different from the one you show, but it has Jason Bateman so it must be the right one...
ReplyDelete-andi
I noticed the different cover photos . . . odd.
DeleteI appreciate the fact that you often point out quality movies that I somehow missed out on. I intend to find this movie.
ReplyDeleteIt's one of the most important reasons I write these reviews.
DeleteI'm interested in this one........
ReplyDeleteIt's worth your time.
DeleteSounds like a pretty cool movie. Yeah, I know that what you do on your computer is never really gone (even though you think it is because you deleted it).
ReplyDeleteYou've been reading 'Penwasser Place" for awhile.
IMAGINE what people think!
As a member of the Blogging Liars Club, I often wonder what people think of me. Sometimes I say that I'm going to tell a lie. Then I tell the lie. Then I get comments from people who believe the lie. And now the lie is on my computer forevermore. What have I done to myself?
DeleteAdded!
ReplyDeleteIt's sad, but interesting. Very compelling.
DeleteThanks for the tip - I'm like everyone else & haven't even heard of this film. Jason Bateman is a bonus. Yeah, I've realized that I have to make a conscious effort to pull away from the computer at key times during the day when my kids are around. Well, one kid---the other one I can only connect w/ via technology right now.
ReplyDeleteIt breaks my heart when I see people who ignore their children in favor of talking and texting non-stop
DeleteI'm not familiar with this one. Sounds like it touches on several of today's problems.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, most definitely.
DeleteThe more you learn about online activity, the less you believe that anything is private. That stinks.
ReplyDeleteBut this movie sounds good!
Some guys at NSA are probably laughing at pictures of my boobs.
DeleteHad that one in my queue but haven't watched it yet. Sounds really interesting and thought provoking. :)
ReplyDeleteI think you'll like it. It's a learning experience, though still entertaining, albeit sad.
Delete