The Fresh Films Review: WarGames (1983)

WarGames (1983)

Directed by:
John Badham

COUNTRY
USA

GENRE
Thriller

NORWEGIAN TITLE
WarGames

RUNNING TIME
114 minutes

Produced by:
Harold Schneider

Written by:
Lawrence Lasker
Walter F. Parkes

Cast includes:
CHARACTER	ACTOR/ACTRESS	RATING
David	Matthew Broderick
McKittrick	Dabney Coleman	½
Falken	John Wood
Jennifer	Ally Sheedy
Gen. Beringer	Barry Corbin
Patricia Healy	Juanin Clay	-
Lyle Watson	Dennis Lipscomb	-
Arthur Cabot	Kent Williams	-
Beringer's Aide	Michael Ensign	-
Jim Sting	Maury Chaykin	-
Jerry	John Spencer	-
Steve	Michael Madsen	-

Review

This 1983 techno-thriller exploring with the interface between the nuclear war scare and the budding reality of modem-connected home computers had just enough credibility to make both worlds approachable – even attractive – to regular people at the time. Beneath the inevitable technical simplifications and visualisations, often with backward-looking military men as narrative tools, WarGames offers a glimpse into the real future of connectivity and accessibility – and it's an optimistic glimpse, one where youth embody a broad-mindedness and unity that their parent generation had lost amid the Cold War. Thanks to John Badham's self-assured direction, the film even looks as high-tech and cutting-edge as one could have hoped, and it was rewarded with kids and teens flocking to cinemas. Another catalyst for that, of course, were Matthew Broderick and Ally Sheedy, whose likeable, down-to-earth personas made them the best possible proponents for fresh-faced, intelligent kids of the 1980s. They strike up a wonderful, non-erotic chemistry that makes their relationship feel appropriately innocent. There's also beautiful cinematography by William A. Fraker (Rosemary's Baby, Looking for Mr. Goodbar), who makes the film – and 1983 – look fabulous.