By Staci Layne Wilson
@StaciWilson

A “blackhat” is a malicious computer hacker. A “whitehat” is the opposite. Since Chris Hemsworth plays versions of both in this new Michael Mann cyber-thriller, I guess he’s two shades of grey. And that about sums up all the nuance and texture this shallow, straightforward suspenser offers up.

Writing a Blackhat review isn’t easy, because it’s such a meh movie. Director Mann is known for Manhunter, Heat, Ali, and Collateral to name a few. I don’t think he’ll be remembered for the largely forgettable Blackhat, but the movie’s not all bad. It’s just a bit bland.

The story is routine: while in prison for string of e-crimes, Nicholas (Hemsworth) gets a reprieve when his former MIT roommate Chen (Leehom Wang), now the head of a Chinese cyber task force, needs him to help hunt down a mysterious villain who’s creating malicious code to facilitate acts of terrorism ranging from overheating a Hong Kong nuclear reactor to manipulating the stock market. Once he’s free, Hathaway renegotiates the terms of his freedom, sweet-talks his friend’s hot sister Lien (Wei Tang) between the sheets, and stands around looking gloriously chiseled. Needless to say, the blackest blackhat is soon onto our hero and his pals, and a global game of cat and mouse ensues.

Mann is known for his love of crisp digital cinematography, and while it brings a hard-edged documentary feel to Blackhat it doesn’t quite serve the story or its characters. (Of course, nearly all movies these days are shot digitally, but they don’t always look it.) Because the chase and fight scenes are shot so coldly, there is an undercurrent of distance — one never really feels any connection to the romance or the danger, vicariously or otherwise.

There are some gripping moments of suspense and there’s no shortage of gory deaths brought on by explosions, machine gun fire, and hand-to-hand combat, but there’s not enough oomph to justify Blackhat’s over-long run time. Rather than rush to the theater, wait for the VOD download.

Rated R

2 Hours 13 Minutes