The Mabini Academy of Lipa, Batangas

Senior High School Department

Performance Task

In

English for Academic and Professional Purposes (EAPP)

Critique Paper – A Documentary Film

“Take Down (2000)”

Directed by: Joseph Chapelle

Submitted to:

Ms. Algerey C. Pateño

Submitted by:

Cortiguerra, Hannah M.

Calalo, Ashley B.

Durias, Dick Marvel T.

Olan, Jennifer Pawlen L.

The Mabini Academy of Lipa, Batangas

T.M. Kalaw St., Balintawak, Lipa City, Batangas
Telephone Number: 741-2659
mabiniacademy1922@gmail.com
 The Mabini Academy of Lipa, Batangas
Senior High School Department

“The Internet is becoming the town square for the global village of

tomorrow” by Bill Gates. This quote implies that the internet is not just a

tool for the present but also a foundation for the future. The Internet is a

large network that connects computers throughout the world. It allows

people to access information and communicate with other people quickly.

The internet is pervasive, it is usually turned into a source of entertainment.

Due to the ease with which perpetrators may access and utilize personal

information, issues over security and privacy have been raised by the

internet. Hacking is the act of entering into computer networks or computer

systems without authorization, usually to do destruction, interrupt actions, or

obtain private information. And other cybersecurity threats such as phishing

and identity theft are prevalent risks associated with internet use.

The film “Take Down (2000)” Takedown: The Pursuit and

Capture of Kevin Mitnick, America's Most Wanted Computer Outlaw

—By the Man Who Did It. It is directed by Joe Chapelle and written by

David Newman, Leslie Newman, John Danza, and Howard A. Rodman. It is

The Mabini Academy of Lipa, Batangas

T.M. Kalaw St., Balintawak, Lipa City, Batangas
Telephone Number: 741-2659
mabiniacademy1922@gmail.com
 The Mabini Academy of Lipa, Batangas
Senior High School Department

based on the true story of Kevin Mitnick. Kevin David Mitnick was an

American computer security consultant, author, and convicted hacker. He is

best known for his high-profile 1995 arrest and five years in prison for

various computer and communications-related crimes. He was born on

August 6, 1963, and died on July 16, 2023, at the age of 59 because of

pancreatic cancer. The film stars Skeet Ulrich as Mitnick and Russell Wong

as Shimomura, with Angela Featherstone, Donal Logue, Christopher

McDonald, Master P, and Tom Berenger. Joseph Chappelle directed the film

Takedown in 2000. He is an American screenwriter, producer, and director

of film and television. He is best known for his work on the critically

acclaimed HBO series The Wire, where he directed six episodes and served

as co-executive producer for three seasons. Pop culture website The Ringer

ranked his episode "Middle Ground" as the 6th Best TV Episode of the

Century in 2018. He has also produced and directed several other well-

known cable television shows, such as CSI: Miami, Fringe, and Chicago

Fire.

The film relies on a group of young hackers who are enlisted by the

authorities to help with a very consequential cybercrime investigation. It is a

The Mabini Academy of Lipa, Batangas

T.M. Kalaw St., Balintawak, Lipa City, Batangas
Telephone Number: 741-2659
mabiniacademy1922@gmail.com
 The Mabini Academy of Lipa, Batangas
Senior High School Department

techno-thriller, a genre that combines action, suspense, and technological

components. It explores the world of computer hacking and cybercrime,

exploring the conflict between hackers and law enforcement. The film

depicts Mitnick hacking into Shimomura's computers to take or remove his

software and data. He is accused by hacking famous government institutes

which never in fact happened. While Mitnick acknowledges employing IP

spoofing to hack Shimomura's computers, he insists that he never deleted

any files or data and he just copied some software's source code out of

curiosity.

In this film, four types of literary criticism approaches will be used:

Archetypal, marxism, psychoanalytic, and reader-response criticism.

The archetypal criticism is one of the approaches that is applicable to

the film, different types of hackers are depicted in the film through the use of

colors and hats. The black hat, white hat, and gray hat hackers. These

contrasting hats provide insight based on their intentions and actions. The

film "Take Down" (2000) highlights the ethical dichotomy that exists in

The Mabini Academy of Lipa, Batangas

T.M. Kalaw St., Balintawak, Lipa City, Batangas
Telephone Number: 741-2659
mabiniacademy1922@gmail.com
 The Mabini Academy of Lipa, Batangas
Senior High School Department

hacking by depicting black hat hackers as antagonists and white hat hackers

as protagonists.

First, the black hat hacker is portrayed as the main antagonist in

hacking. They engage in illegal activities such as breaking into computer

networks without authorization, stealing confidential data, disrupting

services, and spreading malware for personal gain or malicious purposes.

The film does not provide a specific name for the leader of the criminal

organization, the character represents the archetypal figure of the black hat

hacker a skilled who takes advantage of weaknesses in computer systems for

personal gain and malicious intent. In contrast, white hat hackers are

portrayed as ethical defenders of cybersecurity. They strengthen security

procedures, detect weaknesses, and protect against cyberattacks by utilizing

their technological expertise. In "Take Down," the FBI agents led by Kyle

can be considered white hackers as they use their knowledge to look into

cybercrimes, gather evidence, and apprehend the perpetrators. Lastly, the

gray hat hackers. In terms of the intentions and behavior of the characters,

grey hat hackers often fall in between black hat and white hat hackers. In the

The Mabini Academy of Lipa, Batangas

T.M. Kalaw St., Balintawak, Lipa City, Batangas
Telephone Number: 741-2659
mabiniacademy1922@gmail.com
 The Mabini Academy of Lipa, Batangas
Senior High School Department

film, Mark Sheridan is a young hacker who starts as a grey hat hacker

without realizing the full scope of the organization's terrible operations.

Marxist criticism is also applicable in this film. Marxist criticism is

employed in the portrayal of class conflict and power dynamics between the

people and perpetrators/hackers. The negotiation scene highlights the

inherent class struggle between the middle class and the lower classes. The

lower-class mercenaries rely on these government contracts for their

livelihoods. In the film, they are compelled to take on dangerous and

morally ambiguous missions due to economic necessity, highlighting the

vulnerability of the working class to exploitation by both government and

corporate interests. The film highlights how governments use the labor of

the lower class to advance their agendas, while the lower class remains

trapped in a cycle of oppression and dependency, unable to escape from the

system's structural limitations.

Another approach that is used in criticizing this film is psychoanalytic

criticism. The film depicts how the characters encounter unanticipated

challenges such as facing the risk of failures, struggles, and denial to justify

The Mabini Academy of Lipa, Batangas

T.M. Kalaw St., Balintawak, Lipa City, Batangas
Telephone Number: 741-2659
mabiniacademy1922@gmail.com
 The Mabini Academy of Lipa, Batangas
Senior High School Department

their actions. Psychoanalytic emphasizes the role of unconscious

motivations in shaping human behavior. In "Take Down" (2000), a scene

that could be analyzed through a psychoanalytic lens occurs when the

protagonist, a mercenary named Jack is tasked with locating a briefcase that

is very important to his employers during a tense standoff at a secure

facility. As he approaches the briefcase, he hesitates and his mind is flooded

with memories of past traumas and personal conflicts.

The last approach used in this film is the reader-response approach

which varies depending on individuals' perspectives and interpretations in

the film. This can shape how they understand and relate to the characters and

themes. Viewers may appreciate the film primarily for a crime thriller,

suspenseful plot twists, and tense moments. The cultural and historical

setting where "Take Down" was launched may also have an impact on the

reactions of the audience. In 2000, as the internet and computer technology

advanced quickly, worries about security and criminal activity gained

popularity. Analyzing how viewers' views of technology and security

concerns at the time affected their understanding of the movie is possible.

The Mabini Academy of Lipa, Batangas

T.M. Kalaw St., Balintawak, Lipa City, Batangas
Telephone Number: 741-2659
mabiniacademy1922@gmail.com
 The Mabini Academy of Lipa, Batangas
Senior High School Department

In conclusion, the film “Take Down (2000)” highlights the importance

of decision-making before doing unplanned actions and the impact of

wrongdoing on others. It serves as a cautionary about how important it is to

be mindful of hacking threats in our society. The film provides a

comprehensive portrayal of the complexities and risks present in the world

of cybercrime and hacking. Moreover, it serves as a reminder of the

cybersecurity precautions measures, and awareness necessary to protect

ourselves against cyber threats and uphold the integrity of digital systems.

The Mabini Academy of Lipa, Batangas

T.M. Kalaw St., Balintawak, Lipa City, Batangas
Telephone Number: 741-2659
mabiniacademy1922@gmail.com
 The Mabini Academy of Lipa, Batangas
Senior High School Department

References:

Kevin Mitnick

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Mitnick

Joe Chapelle

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Chappelle

The Mabini Academy of Lipa, Batangas

T.M. Kalaw St., Balintawak, Lipa City, Batangas
Telephone Number: 741-2659
mabiniacademy1922@gmail.com