Proof that an inherently ridiculous premise can be no less gripping when well-executed, WarGames sees a young hacker (Matthew Broderick) access the government defense network and seemingly initiate all-out nuclear war between the Soviets and the U.S., believing it to be nothing more than a game. With its abundance of 80s tech, this is a proud product of its time, albeit one whose concerns are no less relevant today, but perhaps even more so given our increasingly tech-reliant society. Though the film is heavily critical of the mutually assured destruction doctrine, it never shoves its politics down the audience's throat, instead wringing tremendous amounts of suspense from the premise, which walks on a tonal knife edge between silly and serious. Broderick gives one of his best performances, and considering how much cheese most of the 80s Cold War movies are wrapped in, it's refreshing to see one that plays it mostly straight.
Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes).
General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.
