About Antitrust (HBO)

Antitrust (2001) is a thrilling drama film directed by Peter Howitt. The story unfolds around a brilliant computer programmer, Milo Hoffman, who is an enthusiastic open-source software supporter. He starts working for a massive computer company, NURV, and quickly discovers the firm's dubious practices. The movie is known for gripping suspense and delves into themes of trust, ethics, and the darker side of the tech industry.

Making / Production

Antitrust was one of the earliest films to tackle the digital era and the emerging contentiousness surrounding digital privacy and monopoly practices. Directed by Peter Howitt, the film was produced by David Nicksay and Keith Addis, with Howard Franklin tackling screenplay duties. Its production companies include MGM, Hyde Park Entertainment, and Industry Entertainment, and the film was distributed by 20th Century Fox.

Actors

• Ryan Phillippe as Milo Hoffman: Phillippe played the protagonist, Milo Hoffman, a young genius programmer. His portrayal of the character's struggle against corporate giants was intense and convincing.
• Tim Robbins as Gary Winston: Robbins played Gary Winston, the cunning and ruthless CEO of NURV. Robbins' portrayal of the character added depth and complexity to the story.
• Rachael Leigh Cook as Lisa Calighan: Cook portrayed Lisa Calighan, a fellow programmer at NURV who aids Hoffman in his struggle. Cook's performance added layers of intrigue and tension to the film.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The tech giant in the film, NURV, stands for "Never Underestimate Radical Vision."
• The film's plot was broadly seen as a thinly-veiled allegory for Microsoft's alleged anti-competitive practices at the time.
• During one scene in the movie, a computer screen shows real Perl code, which was a clever touch added by the makers for authenticity.

Quotes

• "This isn't a game, Milo. In our world, you're not you. You're not an employee. You're a resource."
• "The answer's not in the box, it's in the band."

Music, Soundtrack

• The music for Antitrust was composed by Don Davis, known for his work on The Matrix trilogy.
• The soundtrack features songs from multiple artists including Philosopher Kings and Stereophonics, adding a contemporary feel to the film.

Please note that the film wasn't nominated for any major awards.