Director Dominic Sena and producer Joel Silver's glossy, trashy, frequently ludicrous computer hacking action crime drama is getting a 4K UHD release from Arrow Films.
Stanley Jobson (Hugh Jackman) is fresh out of prison for an FBI hacking scandal. He's separated from his porn star wife and isn't allowed to see his ten year old daughter. Plus, if he goes near a keyboard again then it's back to jail for him. Unfortunately his trailer sees a gorgeous visitor in the form of Ginger (Halle Berry) who with the aid of $100 000 convinces him to meet with Gabriel (John Travolta) who has a hacking job for him that could earn him $10 million. Will Stanley agree to the job? Will there be numerous plot twists and turns? And will there be a quite bizarre climax involving a flying bus?
It's yes to all three of those. The main problem with hacker-based dramas is that watching someone tapping on a keyboard is about as cinematically interesting as them reading a book, and SWORDFISH works overly hard to give the viewer other stuff to keep them interested. Accepting Hugh Jackman as a computer nerd might be considered a stretch but that's the least of what the audience is asked to buy here.
There are some surround sound system-testing explosions and a ridiculously over the top car chase in this film that is as extraordinarily silly as it was obviously very expensive. And if you like that sort of thing then you'll find this is just the ticket for an entertaining night in.
Arrow's 4K transfer looks faultless and offers two sound options - lossless stereo and 5.1 DTS-HD, plus a commentary track from the director. New extras for this release include an interview with co-composer Paul Oakenfold (12 minutes), who composed the electronica tracks (Christopher Young provided the orchestral work). There's also a new interview with production designer Jeff Mann (21 minutes).
Archival material includes a number of promotional featurettes including an HBO 'first look' (15 mins), the effects of the flying bus (8 mins), an Oakenfold music video (4 mins) and cast and crew interviews (13mins). There are also two alternate endings and a trailer. Arrow's limited edition comes with a collector's booklet with new writing on the film, a poster and a reversible sleeve.
SWORDFISH is out on 4K UHD from Arrow Films on Monday 9th June 2025
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