If you’re not watching Euroleague tonight, watch this

Swordfish

The world’s most skilled hacker is recruited into the gang of the mysterious and ruthless Gabriel, in order to break through some impenetrable banking codes and transfer billions of dollars from illegal government sources into other accounts. But in this game of cyber-espionage, no one is who they seem.
An action film from 2001 starring the very “hot” at the time Hugh Jackman and Halle Berry, with John Travolta as the villain — though for some reason his role in the film didn’t work for me, nor did he feel particularly threatening 🤷‍♂️.
The movie is what it is: an action flick without any deeper meaning — and that’s perfectly fine. Jackman and Berry were solid in their roles, the film had a nice soundtrack, an over-the-top script in many parts, some cool action scenes with slow-motion effects that were very trendy at the time, a fast pace, and quite predictable — as expected. The ending left open the possibility of a sequel, which of course never came (at least not yet).
You spend an enjoyable couple of hours, it’s entertaining and nothing more — but sometimes that’s enough.

The Italian Job

Charlie and his crew pull off a spectacular gold heist in Venice, but are betrayed by one of their own. A year later, Charlie is ready for revenge, planning to rob his former partner in broad daylight and make his escape. A remake of the British crime comedy of the same name, with the legendary Mini Coopers once again stealing the show. The film stands on its own and is an enjoyable watch.
Released in 2003, it was a success, with a cast that includes Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, Edward Norton, Jason Statham, Donald Sutherland, and others. I think part of its success comes from the chemistry of the cast, which is evident throughout the film — you can tell they had a lot of fun making it.
The performances are good, except for Wahlberg, who doesn’t quite convince as a gang leader, while Charlize is a real heartbreaker. The film has the right intensity and a fast pace. The script, with some nice comic touches and witty humor, doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it has a cool attitude that makes you not care too much about its simplicity.
On the negative side, I’d say the characters are underdeveloped and sacrificed on the altar of action, with only superficial backgrounds and depth, while it also lacks the style of its predecessor.
Even so, it offers a very enjoyable two-hour ride that will keep you entertained without dragging for a moment — and you’ll definitely fall in love with the Mini Coopers 😅.