Untraceable
Film review
UNTRACEABLE — ★ ½ — Diane Lane, Colin Hanks, Billy Burke, Joseph Cross, Daniel Liu, Mary Beth Hurt, Tim De Zam; rated R (violence, gore, profanity, drug use)
"Untraceable?" "Unappetizing" is more like it or perhaps "unrealistic," "unconvincing" and/or "unexciting."And when you consider just how many talented people were involved in the making of this "torture-porn" thriller, the correct title for it is probably "unwatchable."
Despite the film's pretensions, it's pretty hard to stomach. Also, the movie takes potshots at the media and the Internet for supposedly sensationalizing violence. But the somewhat accusatory tone is odd, considering just what is shown here.
Diane Lane, who's obviously slumming, stars as Jennifer Marsh, a Portland-based investigator in an FBI cyber-crimes unit.
Normally, Jennifer works cases involving Internet "predators" or identity theft. But now she's trying to find a killer who's using Web site visitors as "accomplices." The site features footage of people being tortured, and depending on the number of "hits" the site gets, the faster the victim dies.
This criminal has already tortured and killed an animal, a Vietnam War veteran and a news reporter. And as Jennifer comes closer to an arrest, the killer gets closer to her as well and starts making this a personal issue.
Director Gregory Hoblit made a great leap forward with last year's well-acted thriller "Fracture." But this is a serious career regression.
Admittedly, he is working from a script that features terrible dialogue and ludicrous plotting, but Hoblit is still unable to coax anything that even resembles quality movie acting from this cast.
Lane and Billy Burke both appear to be sleepwalking through this mess, while Colin Hanks looks like he's searching for an exit (he plays one of Jennifer's fellow investigators).
Only veteran Mary Beth Hurt escapes unscathed. She has a handful of scenes as Jennifer's mother.
"Untraceable" is rated R for scenes of torture and other disturbing violent imagery (shootings, animal cruelty and violence against women), graphic blood and gore, scattered sexual language (mostly strong profanity), and some drug content and references (lethal use of blood thinners and other chemicals). Running time: 100 minutes.
E-MAIL: jeff@desnews.com
Comments
Cast: Diane Lane, Colin Hanks, Billy Burke, Joseph Cross, Daniel Liu, Mary Beth Hurt, Tim De Zam
Find a Movie Theater
- Attempted murder case refiled 1:58 a.m.
- Sports on the air 1:38 a.m.
- This weekend on TV 1:38 a.m.
- Birthdays for Saturday, July 11 1:38 a.m.
- 2 men cited on LDS plaza 1:37 a.m.
- S.L. man spots stolen car — his 1:23 a.m.
- Girl critical after run-in with train 1:23 a.m.
- Probe of death treated as slaying 1:22 a.m.
- Taylorsville man arrested in robbery 1:21 a.m.
- HBO defends U. logo use in 'Love' 1:20 a.m.
- Jazz brass debate Millsap match
- LDS seminary principal arrested
- Reactions on Boozer speculation
- 2 men cited on LDS plaza
- Teacher faces new sex charges
- Jazz talking Boozer trade?
- Jazz finances not quite so bleak
- HBO defends U. logo use in 'Love'
- Jazz down Oklahoma City
- Twitter lets fans communicate, interact
- LDS seminary principal arrested
160 - Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
141 - Jazz talking Boozer trade?
136 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
123 - Jazz brass debate Millsap match
99 - Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
94 - Fairness of BCS debated
81 - Chaffetz eyes challenging Bennett
74 - Letters: Single-payer system best
72 - Services bids farewell to Jackson
70
I love Millsap, and the Jazz will find a way to move Boozer and match for...
i think its childish to assume that somebody would actually want to get...
Millsap and Boozer need to stay in Utah. Millsap is Boozers backup while he...
Childish and immature? Its always easier being ignorant and presuming things...
can you use words like testimony and church leadership to critisize a...
Bro P really helped me through a tough time in my life when I had him in...
These are only allegations at present, but I hope when he goes to trial, the...
My thoughts are with the Pratt family right now. Michael I hope you are...
It is interesting that everyone who seems to be a member comments on how nice...
You presume, simply because they were gay, that they were trying to "stir...




You can be the first to comment on this story.