WarGames

Starring: Matthew Broderick, Ally Sheedy, John Wood, Dabney Coleman, Barry Corbin, Juanin Clay, Dennis Lipscomb, Michael Madsen, Maury Chaykin, William H. Macy (uncredited)
Directed by: John Badham
Rating: PG
Genre: Action, Drama, Science Fiction
1983

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A young hacker (Matthew Broderick) accidentally hacks into a new government computer and inadvertently starts a simulated war game that threatens to bring about global thermonuclear war.

Review:

Tim: I watched WarGames for the first time 40 years after its release. To appreciate this movie, you have to put yourself into the mindset of the early 1980s. Technology has advanced incredibly since the release of this film, and much of the technology seems embarrassingly prehistoric compared to today. But, if you can imagine watching this in the early 80s, you'll find a film that feels cutting edge, frighteningly contemporary. It's a movie that tackles the subject of advanced technology and artificial intelligence run amok. We're frightened of the same things as I write this in 2024. I really enjoyed this movie and looking past the quaint technology, this deals with real themes and real fears that feel as appropriate today as they did in 1983.

The film requires some suspension of disbelief and understanding of how things were so fundamentally different when this movie was released. We see a high school student accidentally hack into a government computer and the computer engages in a "game" of thermonuclear war. The rest of the film involves trying to recognize what's real vs. simulated and figuring out how to stop a cold, calculating machine whose game could end the human race. The stakes couldn't be bigger. This is really why John Badham's film is so engaging- we're seeing a young kid inadvertently thrust into a prominent position where he may be humanity's best chance at avoiding extinction. Could this really happen the way it does here? No way. But, this is top-notch entertainment. We hadn't been inundated with movies like this in 1983- it undoubtedly felt frightening, thrilling, like we were on a precipice of a new, unknown world. I felt quite invested in this story from the opening scene to the exciting climax. Badham directs a thoroughly enjoyable film.

Matthew Broderick makes a great protagonist here. He's goofy and relatable, so we instantly like him. He also comes across as intelligent, so we can believe him as this young hacker. He connects well with the audience and we find ourselves easily rooting for him. I really enjoyed seeing Ally Sheedy here, too. I wish she had more to do than be "the love interest", but her presence was welcome. She works well opposite Broderick and it was fun seeing her play this role. I was a bit bummed she was relegated to the sidelines so much, but was still happy to see her. John Wood was fine- he has a few nice moments, which contrast with a few lumpy ones. I didn't always believe his performance, but his effective moments certainly help the film. Dabney Coleman delivers his usual effective supporting performance. He plays the role with a nice sincerity that helps us buy the somewhat outlandish story. It was nice seeing Michael Madsen in a very small role here, too. The cast was solid for this film.

As I said, by today's standards, we've seen so many of these kinds of films. It certainly felt unique and intriguing in 1983. The movie was actually nominated for 3 Academy Awards- Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Sound. I can see these- the screenplay tackled a newer subject in an exciting and thought-provoking way. This isn't just a movie about technology run amok, it also tackles the Cold War fear of nuclear war that could devastate the world. That may not be something we're constantly worried about today, but the threat is absolutely still real. The cinematography is impressive, especially the depiction of the cutting edge technology of the day. The sound is strong, too, helping to immerse ourselves in this underground bunker run by a dangerous artificial intelligence. The film didn't win any of those, but recognition of the nominations speaks to the importance of this film when it was released.

I enjoyed WarGames quite a bit. It's taken me way too long to see this movie, but it was entertaining and thought-provoking. The technology seems laughable by today's standards, but it tackles real subjects still on our minds today. I enjoyed Broderick in this role and I'd consider this film exceptionally well made.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Flight of the Navigator, 2001: A Space Odyssey