Track Down(also known asTakedownoutside the United States) is a 2000 Americancrimethriller filmbased on the non-fiction bookTakedown: The Pursuit and Capture of Kevin Mitnick, America's Most Wanted Computer Outlaw—By the Man Who Did ItbyTsutomu ShimomuraandJohn Markoff,about the manhunt for computer hackerKevin Mitnick.It is directed byJoe Chappelle,with a screenplay byHoward A. Rodman,John Danza, andDavid&Leslie Newman.The film starsSkeet Ulrichas Mitnick andRussell Wongas Shimomura, withAngela Featherstone,Donal Logue,Christopher McDonald,Master P,andTom Berenger.
| Track Down | |
|---|---|
 Finnish DVD cover | |
| Directed by | Joe Chappelle |
| Written by | David Newman Leslie Newman John Danza Howard A. Rodman |
| Based on | Takedown: The Pursuit and Capture of Kevin Mitnick, America's Most Wanted Computer Outlaw—By the Man Who Did It by |
| Produced by | John Thompson Brad Weston |
| Starring | Skeet Ulrich Russell Wong Angela Featherstone Donal Logue Christopher McDonald Master P Tom Berenger |
| Cinematography | Dermott Downs |
| Edited by | Joe Rabig |
| Music by | Chris Holmes James Kole |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Dimension Films |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 92 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Upon release, the film and its source material came under controversy due to inaccuracies and falsehoods alleged by Mitnick against Shimomura and the screenwriters. The film's producers faced a lawsuit from author Jonathan Littman, who alleged that portions of the film's screenplay were taken from his bookThe Fugitive Game: Online with Kevin Mitnick.As such, the film was not released in the United States until September 24, 2004, where it was releaseddirect-to-videobyDimension Films.
Summary
editFor yearsKevin Mitnickhad eluded federal agents while using the latest electronic gadgetry to break into countless computers and gain access to sensitive and valuable information. But when he breaches the system of leading computer crimes expertTsutomu Shimomura,it sets off an epic chase through cyberspace between a pair of hard-driven geniuses operating on different sides of the law.[1]
Cast
edit- Skeet UlrichasKevin Mitnick
- Russell WongasTsutomu Shimomura
- Angela Featherstoneas Julia
- Donal Logueas Alex Lowe
- Christopher McDonaldas Mitch Gibson
- Master Pas Brad
- Tom Berengeras McCoy Rollins
- Jeremy Sistoas Lance "Icebreaker" Petersen
- Amanda Peetas Karen
- Ethan Supleeas Dan Bradley
- Dorit Sauer as Shelley
- Scott Cooperas Jake Cronin
- Ned Bellamyas Tom Fiori
- Sara Melson as Rachel
- J. C. Quinn as Sgt. Tom Janks
- Cara Buonoas Christina Painter
- Mitch Pileggias Bruce Koball
The real Tsutomu Shimomura makes acameo appearanceas a hacker.
Release
editThe film was released to theaters in France asCybertraquein 2000, then on DVD in Europe[2]asTakedownlater, such as in Germany in May 2003.[3]It was released on DVD in the U.S. asTrack Downin late 2004.[4]
Criticism
editFactual inaccuracies
editIn Kevin Mitnick'sThe Art of Deception,Mitnick states that both book and movie are "extremely inaccurate" and based on media hype. In the film, Mitnick and Shimomura meet twice; one of these meetings prompts Kevin to flee to Seattle. This meeting did not actually take place.
The film depicts Mitnick hacking into Shimomura's computers and stealing/deleting his files and software. Though Mitnick admits hacking Shimomura's computers using IP spoofing, he claims he never caused any damage to anyone by deleting files or data, merely copying source code of some software, out of curiosity. The film also shows Mitnick hacking NORAD, the NSA and other famous government institutes, which never in fact happened.
The 2001 documentaryFreedom Downtimetries to get behind some of the false rumors about Kevin Mitnick that ended up being presented as facts in the film.
Lawsuit regarding alleged copyright violation
editIn 1997, California author Jonathan Littman wroteThe Fugitive Game: Online with Kevin Mitnick,in which he presented Mitnick's side of the story.[5]Littman alleged that portions of the film were taken from his book without permission.[6]
As a result, Littman suedThe Walt Disney CompanyandMiramax.[7]
References
edit- ^"Track Down: Movies & TV".Amazon.RetrievedMay 16,2011.
- ^Kevin Poulsen (September 9, 2004)."Mitnick movie comes to the US",The Register.(SecurityFocus).
- ^Joseph, Patrick (2004)."Takedown".Filmbesprechungen.de.Archived fromthe originalon May 12, 2004.
- ^Leydon, Joe (December 7, 2004)."Track Down".Variety.RetrievedJanuary 13,2019.
After gathering dust for nearly five years, "Track Down" finally emerges as homevid fodder.
- ^Hafner, Katie."The Fugitive Game: Online with Kevin Mitnick: Jonathan Littman: Books".Amazon.RetrievedMay 16,2011.
- ^Fost, Dan (May 4, 2000)."Movie About Notorious Hacker Inspires a Tangle of Suits and Subplots".San Francisco Chronicle.Archivedfrom the original on August 19, 2012.RetrievedApril 24,2007.
- ^ZDNet staff (May 2, 2000)."Author sues Disney for hacker movie".ZDNet.RetrievedSeptember 7,2013.