Freedom Downtime

This is an interesting documentary about a subject that is often ignored - the court's and police's lack of knowledge about anything connected to a network, and medias habit of twisting or ignoring facts when they see they can make more money. As a non-American, there are some things that I don't get, but over all the film is very good at telling us how things work, and in my country (Sweden), the events in this film might get another point of view, since the police raid on the pirate bay in April 2006, where many things got eerily similar to what happened to Mitnick.

In a film making point of view Freedom Downtime is lacking though, the editing could be better, and the sound mixing got some flaws (but I must say it was a long time since I saw the film, so I could remember incorrectly). Still, this is a must see for anyone interested in the hacker community, or the odd behaviour of the "justice".

I was fortunate enough to see this film at its first screening at HOPE2000 in New York City. The first release was not the final and it had some minor problems. I watched the finished version at the NY Film and Video Festival at the Sutton Theatre. There were many interesting changes, mostly for the better.

The movie is about the life of "SUPER HACKER" Kevin Mitnick. It explains why his case was flawed and the propaganda the media released about the trials. The narrator, Emmanuel Goldstein, goes on an adventure with some of his friends from NYC to various places relating to Kevin or the Hacker world.

There are scenes thrown in just for fun and also very serious messages about the government's misuse of power. An X-Con, Bernie S, explains his chilling experience in jail and how it nearly cost him his life. All of this over a box of crystals that could be used to steal telephone service.

The movie is funny and educational. It should appeal to all members of the hacking community and those who wish to become informed.

The film doesn't end at the credits.

Freedom Downtime is basically a personal video record of the "Free Kevin" campaign to free notorious hacker Kevin Mitnick. It's not really about hacking at all and the comparisons to Michael Moore are only appropriate in that the filmmaker confronts those who have been deemed as bad guys. Other than that, Freedom Downtime shares nothing in common with Michael Moore films and is an interesting, albeit scary, look at the justice system in the USA.

It should be an interesting film for anyone who remembers the "Free Kevin" campaign that was once so prevalent on the internet. It's full of that dry humor so appreciated by hacker culture, which adds a little hacker flavor to an otherwise serious subject. Those not familiar with Mitnick may not appreciate the film as much, but they'll still come away with an inside glimpse into serious problems with the justice system and the corporate media's willingness to ignore the truth when it wishes to do so. Of course, this won't come as a big surprise today, when trust in the corporate media is at an all-time low and people have turned to the internet as a result.

Freedom Downtime is an eloquent and thought provoking documentary about the disgusting abuse of power in the United States. Kevin Mitnik's life was destroyed by the "justice" system. This film documents the campaign to free him, and provides a fascinating insight into the hacker world. You will laugh, you will cry, you will want to take up arms against the state...

as others have, i shall preface this. when i was young, i was what you would call a hacker. now im in network security, and deployment. i am intricately linked with the concept of hackers, and their real world conterparts, good and bad.

now, this move, well, it's just good to watch. if your a hacker, or a geeeek, you probably already know about kevins harrowing experience. if not, buckle up, cause your eyes are about to be pried open to the reality of the justice system, and it's total lack of knowlege about anything with a cpu. you will be struck by the concept that there is indeed a secondary culture growing up right around you. that your neighbors, friends, and even your boss, could have a completely different life from that you know. your children could. yes, thats scary, but whats more frightening, is that thweir life could be ruined, the moment someone decides they know too much, and could POTENTIALLY pose a threat. that was kevins true downfall. he potentially could have posed a threat. something the movie missed is that thousands of people are better hackers then kevin, and they roam the channels freely. mostly it is because they are lucky, and stay under the radar.

as for those of you who ARE already aware of the shafting mitnik, and geeks in general get from the justice system, stick with it, you might see someone you know, and it's a rare chance to see what goes on at the conventions you should get your ass out to...