Rating of
2/4
Open Windows? More Like Blue Screen of Death
Chris Kavan - wrote on 01/22/15
I can give director Nacho Vigalondo credit for trying something outside the ordinary. Filmed in real time (utilizing web cams) the film follows a man, NIck Chambers, (Elijah Wood) who thinks he has won a dinner date with starlet Jill Goddard (Sasha Grey) only to find himself roped into a convoluted plot by a stalker/hacker Chord (Neil Maskell) who is himself masquerading as a prolific hacker codenamed "Nevada". A trio of wanna-be top hackers also joins the fray.
This is all presented in a series of computer screens, security cameras, cell phones, hand-held cameras and a very few scenes of actual regular movie footage. While the concept is certainly original, the execution leaves one wanting more. Which is too bad - Vigalondo is responsible for one of my favorite time-travel conundrums, the gleefully weird and wonderful Timecrimes. Open Windows feels like a step back, even with the added star power. The overall effect is interesting - switching perspectives and angels on the fly, but the overall plot is a big mess, and trying to throw in some twists at the end only serves to over-extended the already outrageous actions taken by the characters. And for all the action involved, it never really gets moving - not even throwing in a car chase or two can help things much.
Even so, Wood does his best to portray and every-man caught up in an over-the-top situation and Grey, while mostly eye-candy, does well enough as the actress being obsessed over. I find it ironic that her characters is reeling from a purportedly leaked sex tape, given her past in the adult entertainment industry. I also don't know if this movie is in any way accurate in terms of the hacking going on, or if it's a completely inane portrayal (like the movie "Hackers") - I doubt it follows many true-to-life hacking crimes.
In the end, Open Windows I think is more of an experiment for Vigalondo - a man who is not opposed to taking risks - it's just this time the reward isn't quite worth it.
