“Untraceable” (Sony Pictures)
Both Sides Now
“Untraceable” is a movie that wants to play it both ways. It wants to preach against the horrors of torture porn on the Internet, and then it wants to give us a movie version look at what torture porn is. This duality is the downfall of the movie. If you can overlook that conflict the film is a taut, tense thriller with a dynamic performance by Diane Lane.
Lane plays FBI Agent Jennifer Marsh. She is a widower with a young daughter who lives and works in Portland, Oregon. Her specialty is cyberspace and she and her co-worker Griffin Dowd (Colin Hanks) spend their work hours tracking down people who violate the internet in some unlawful way.
One day they are drawn to a site named “killwithme.com.” There they watch an animal being killed by torture. The torture becomes more and more deadly based on the number of people who log on to the site. A few days later it is a man who is being tortured to death on the site, and once again the number of people who log on determine the quickness with which he is executed.
The scenes of these “deaths” are gruesome and repugnant and showing them is completely at odds with the message of the film that says we should not be such “voyeurs.” The film also is quick to say we are just as guilty as the criminal when we watch such horrendous events.
As repugnant as the theme of the film is, it is also a fast-paced thriller. Lane is totally believable as the earnest and capable Agent. Hanks sets just the right tone as her loveable associate. And Billy Burke is successful at playing the cop who might be a worthy possible love interest.
Joseph Cross of the film “Running With Scissors” is absolutely creepy as the deranged killer. He has the deadliest eyes seen on the screen in some time. They cry out EVIL! I’m sure he is a nice person and that evilness is just all acting. At least I hope it is.
Although the film is weak in several areas it is strongest in its final scenes where Marsh goes up against the killer. She is no damsel in distress but can protect herself and anyone else. It is a case of woman power at its best.
The film is rated R for profanity and violence.
“Untraceable” is a film that tries to have its cake and eat it too. It preaches against violence but makes violence its theme. It just doesn’t work and that is its main failure. Diane Lane gets an A from me for a solidly secure performance. Maybe next time she will land a better film in which to show her talent.
I scored “Untraceable” an untouchable 5 out of 10.
