Disconnect

Disconnect, the first feature length film from director Henry Alex Rubin is for those of you out there that get excited by ensemble casts instead of a film being carried by one star. Harkening back to the days of Crash, Disconnect is a film full of desperate people living disparate lives who in some unknown, six degrees of separation way touches each others. It's a tapestry that lacked a little bit of focus but because the performances were so good, I give Disconnect three buckets of Killer Korn.



Disconnect is either very late to the party, OR it's extremely timely depending on your point of view. Ensemble movies were all the rage back when Crash won the Oscar for best movie much to the chagrin of Hollywood. Other copycats popped up trying to tug on those familiar heartstrings but as with everything in this world, the ensemble movies came and went, rarely to be seen again...until now. Disconnect unearths the same game plan that made Crash such a hit. One emotional story where everything else spins off from it, like spokes in a wheel. The major emotional hub of this film is school bullying, which is why I called the movie timely. The bullying, while not of the physical variety, which would be easier to get over I think, takes place via the internet in Disconnect and it drives the bullied to attempt the unthinkable.

Jason Dixon, played by Colin Ford and his best friend Frye, played by Aviad Bernstein decide to create a fake Facebook account and go after talented loner Ben, played by Jonah Bobo. Jason's dad, ex cop Mike Dixon who is played by Frank Grillo was part of the electronic monitoring division of the police but quit once his wife died, so he could better raise his son. Mike is hunting down an internet identity thief for the morose married couple of Cindy and Derek Hull, played by Paula Patton and Alexander Skarsgard respectively. Ben has no friends, even his sister Abby, played by Haley Ramm wants nothing to do with him at home or at school. Ben's father Rich Boyd, played by Jason Bateman is a distracted lawyer who can't seem to be bothered getting to know Ben and has a better rapport with his daughter Abby. Ben's mother Lydia, played by Hope Davis is the overbearing, helicopter mom that tries her best to keep the family together, and failing miserably at it.

The one story that's really got nothing to do with all the others is the reporter Nina Dunham, played by Andrea Riseborough pursuing a story about internet sex workers. Her source is Kyle, played by Max Thieriot. This particular story line has nothing to do with any of the other lives in the movie but it's still an emotional one that shows the naivete of a street hustler seduced by the good life he sees Nina living, and Nina's no holds barred ambition that almost gets her killed. Once Jason and Frye coax Ben to send an embarrassing picture of himself that makes the rounds around his school, Ben sees no other alternative to attempt the unthinkable that lands him in a coma. Every storyline comes to a dramatic close and even the fractured Boyd family as a tender moment in Ben's hospital room, and the final image on the screen is a touching moment between sister and brother.

Disconnect could have mined more emotional gold, and maybe with a more seasoned director at the helm that would have been the case. It left too much out there I feel, it didn't go for the jugular but maybe that would have been too much. It was scored beautifully by Max Richter, lovely melodies and light musical keys enhanced the film and didn't distract or take away from the movie. It was a well done job. Disconnect was also nice to look at. Cinematographer Ken Seng did a good job at capturing making this somewhat dark in storyline movie pleasant to look at. If you are a fan of the ensemble type movies, you missed them, or you're a fan of Crash (which I feel is a far superior movie), then you'll enjoy this film. So give it a chance, check it out and I'll see you at the theater.