Taglines: Truth can be dangerous… Trust can be deadly.
Antitrust is the fictional story of computer programming genius Milo Hoffman after graduating from Stanford and getting out into the competitive world of computer software. In his contemplation of where to begin his career, he is contacted by Gary Winston whose character is loosely based on Bill Gates.
Winston is the CEO of a company called NURV, and they are on the brink of completing the global communication’s system, Synapse. They need Hoffman to help them meet their launch date, so after much thought and with the full support of his girlfriend Alice, he accepts the job. Tragedy soon after strikes and Milo becomes suspicious of the company he has been wrapped up in. He learns that trusting anyone could be a mistake, and that nothing is as it seems.
Antitrust (also titled Conspiracy.com and Startup) is a 2001 thriller film written by Howard Franklin and directed by Peter Howitt. The film stars Phillippe, Ryan Phillippe, Tim Robbins, Claire Forlani, Rachael Leigh Cook, Douglas McFerran, Richard Roundtree, Nate Dushku, Ned Bellamy and Jonathon Young. Antitrust opened in the United States on January 12, 2001. Principal photography for Antitrust took place in Vancouver, British Columbia, and California.
Antitrust’s pro–open source story excited industry leaders and professionals with the prospects of expanding the public’s awareness and knowledge level of the availability of open-source software. The film heavily features Linux and its community, using screenshots of the Gnome desktop, consulting Linux professionals, as well as cameos by Miguel de Icaza and Scott McNealy (the latter appearing in the film’s trailers). Jon Hall, executive director of Linux International and consultant on the film said “[Antitrust] is a way of bringing the concept of open source and the fact that there is an alternative to the general public, who often don’t even know that there is one.”
Despite the film’s message about open source computing, MGM did not follow through with their marketing: the official website for Antitrust featured some videotaped interviews which were only available in Apple’s proprietary QuickTime format.
Antitrust (2001)
Directed by: Peter Howitt
Starring: Ryan Phillippe, Tim Robbins, Claire Forlani, Rachael Leigh Cook, Douglas McFerran, Richard Roundtree, Nate Dushku, Ned Bellamy, Jonathon Young
Screenplay by: Howard Franklin
Production Design by: Catherine Hardwicke
Cinematography by: John Bailey
Film Editing by: Zach Staenberg
Costume Design by: Maya Mani
Set Decoration by: Annmarie Corbett, Rose Marie McSherry
Art Direction by: Doug Byggdin
Music by: Don Davis
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some violence and brief language.
Distributed by: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release Date: January 12, 2001
Views: 174
