I spent the first 35+ years of my life hearing about how great this movie is, and I finally get around to watching it and now I know why.
It isn't because it's a good movie. It's because it has a tranny in it. Or maybe they're just gay, or a gay cross dresser? idk because I half tuned it out by then and started playing video games while I watched out of the corner of my eye.
He's a tranny, they are robbing the bank to get the tranny a sex change operation.
Tranny gets shot at the end right?
Yup.
Based af.
IIRC, I rented it back when Swordfish was in theaters and it referenced Dog Day Afternoon.
Swordfish's premise for escalated retaliatory violence against terrorist groups, including murdering thousands or more of their "innocent" civilians was pretty fucking based for it's time, but that shouldn't have been the subplot for the bad guy imo. Should have been the main plot for the whole damn movie.
There are two things I remember about Swordfish.....and they are better in Monster's Ball.
Yea, Swordfish was notable for two things, and two things only.
The most front-loaded movie of all time?
The scene with the bomb vest going off was pretty good for its time too. But you're right. The tanning scene was the only reason people watched it.
Also, I read that the scene in Monster's Ball wasn't simulated, and that everyone had to sign NDAs over it.
I saw it fairly recently. The tranny stuff didn’t bother me, and I felt it served to show how messed up Pachino’s character was. Also, it is part of the true story the movie is based on.
Personally, I think it’s a solid piece of entertainment, but it’s not great. I wouldn’t compare it to “Citizen Kane”, “All That Jazz”, or even “Monty Python and the Holy Grail”.
The movie is praised for Pacino and Cazale's performances. If you know Pacino for his later yelling Pacino phase his early stuff may surprise people. I think the movie is also where the Attica chants became popular.
What a brilliant film -- I remember some reviews from way back in the day that trashed the film for being incoherent and a bit of mess, but I thought it was a great encapsulation of a semi-biographical pic that was quite layered, and Roy Scheider was a force in that film.
It is great. It wouldn’t make my top ten, but just barely. Top 15 for sure.
Luckily I saw that movie years ago so that part didn’t bother me. If I were to watch it now I’d most likely turn it off.
I only know of this movie because John Travolta's character references it in the first scene of Swordfish. Never seen it.