GUEST EDITORIAL: 5 Movies Accurately Portraying the Tech Industry
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5 Movies Accurately Portraying the Tech Industry
by Lewis Robinson
Everyone knows the stereotype about the tech nerd in big blockbuster movies. They're always the person being asked to "hack" something, they wear glasses and a hoodie, and they have zero social skills. For the average person, this portrayal might seem accurate, but for insiders, it can be a painful experience. Thankfully, there are some fantastic movies out there for those who work in tech and want some screenplays with a little knowledge behind the writing.
The Imitation Game
If this were a list of movies every programmer should watch, The Imitation Game would be at the top of that list, too. The story of Alan Turing's invention of the first computer, for the purpose of decoding the German Enigma Code during World War II. It's hard to believe that this is a true story, because looking at the computers of today and tech like a 5G standalone core, it's impossible to think that one man could've started the whole cascade of events leading to where we are now. This film isn't just great from a technology perspective - it's also a heartbreaking and inspiring story about a man who faced a lot of persecution during his lifetime, portrayed masterfully by Benedict Cumberbatch.
2001: A Space Odyssey
Watching this movie now, it might not be obvious to the viewer just how ahead of its time 2001: A Space Odyssey was when it came out in 1968. The year this film was released was before man had even landed on the moon for the first time, which makes its accurate portrayal of space travel impressive, to say the least. The film also includes nonexistent technology like cell phones and laptops, meaning that creators Stanley Kubrik and Arthur Clark thought through what a man might need in space that had not been invented at that time. To top it all off, the creepy voice assistant, HAL, is one of the first-ever screen portrayals of AI technology that is now commonplace.
The Truman Show
While this movie is probably not one of the first ones that come to mind when you think about technology, The Truman Show is an incredibly insightful portrayal of current phenomena like reality TV and vlogging. Beyond those who genuinely live their lives on screen, however, this film is also a great look at the dystopian life of those who are constantly under surveillance, a reality that faces anyone who has joined the 21st century by getting online and keeping a cellphone on them at all times. If you, like Truman, have a suspicion that you're being watched all the time, you might not be so far off base.
Office Space
Anyone who has worked in an office and experienced the at-times nightmarish reality of corporate culture can relate to Office Space. This comedic and relatively low-budget movie portrays an average employee who goes off the rails one day and starts to go against his programming. In addition, it shows workers preparing in a totally subdued way for the much-hyped events of Y2K. Those born post-Y2K may not get this reference, but anyone working in tech during that time is likely to have a lot of memories of preparing for the unknown.
The Social Network
What piece of technology has been more integral to and shaped more lives than Facebook? The Social Network is Aaron Sorkin's portrayal of Mark Zuckerburg's rise to success, with all the complex situations that littered Facebook's journey from a fad website to the #1 used social network. As Facebook's story continues today, it's increasingly interesting to look back at how it all began. For those involved in Silicon Valley-style startups, getting a look at what Zuckerburg may have experienced as he maneuvered that world is fascinating, and more than a little ominous.
The next time you're looking for a movie to watch and want to avoid the facepalm-inducing cringe of poorly written technical jargon, try out one of these. You may end up learning important lessons about the tools you use and the skills you have, as well.
