Bank Holiday Film Recommendations - Data & Analytics

As soon as I’m finished sun-worshipping this weekend there will undoubtedly be a few cold tins and a film. If you’re planning a similar itinerary and fancy some flicks with a big data twist, try a few of the below on for size.

NB: There are plenty more out there but these are my top five based on quality of picture and depiction of technology. I also appreciate it’s pretty British/US-centric and would welcome any other suggestions particularly from ROW.

Moneyball (2011)

This is a fascinating watch, even if (like me) you have negligible baseball knowledge as the film describes what is often touted as the biggest sporting revolution of the 21st Century. Michael Lewis’ (The Big Short) book is given some extra horsepower in an Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network) script which depicts Billy Beane’s controversial but ultimately successful data-led scouting methods at Oakland Athletic. Brad Pitt holds his own as lead but Jonah Hill’s first departure from frat comedy is the real treat.

Fundamentally, the lowly Oakland A’s were able to compete with wealthier opponents by purchasing undervalued players determined by statistical analysis. For those Brits that think this is an ocean away from our sporting world, many Premier League football teams are known for employing similar techniques, some very well. A notable example is Leicester City signing relatively unknown N’Golo Kante for ￡5.6m before he played a fundamental role in their historic title win during his only season at the club.

Where to stream: Netflix

The Dark Knight (2008)

Christopher Nolan’s trilogy is well documented for its excellence and while I love watching Tom Hardy break things, part two really is the crown jewel. Heath Ledger lights the screen on fire with his psychotic joker, the character’s destructive amorality asking complex questions of noble adversaries and audience alike. Christian Bale, Gary Oldman and Aaron Eckhart all offer engrossing performances to help the director give the comic book genre a new, darker and more realistic feel.

However, the shout out here is Morgan Freeman’s Lucius Fox providing Batman with his secret weapon: DATA. By tracking the locations and streaming camera feed they are able to hunt down the Joker, although Fox tenders his resignation immediately after citing the tool’s nefarious potential. In 2008, this idea seemed almost dystopian, although compared with the tracked advertising and surveillance capabilities of today… perhaps Nolan was more perceptive than he gets credit for.

Where to stream: Sky/Now TV

Minority Report (2002)

It takes me a lot to like a Tom Cruise film no matter how many cocktails he makes so it’s all the more impressive that Stephen Spielberg’s futuristic thriller slips in here. Based on a Philip K Dick novel, the film envisages the year 2054 where Washington DC police department can predict and stop murders before they take place thanks to a group of mutated humans who can witness future events.

Okay, so their technique isn’t big data per say, but is it so much to imagine a scenario where modelling creates crime scenarios and is used in a preventative capacity? It would certainly make a cracking Black Mirror episode. This movie is good family fun if you’re in to sci-fi and makes an intriguing commentary on the concept of free will.

Where to stream: Sky/Now TV

Her (2013)

This is dabbling a little into AI territory but Spike Jonze’s exploration of human and computer romance is perhaps the most empathetic portrayal of technology I’ve seen in a film. Scarlett Johansson brilliantly voices an operating system who Joaquin Phoenix and his valiant moustache fall madly in love with.

What is interesting here is the way the computer’s rapid ingestion of data allows it to mimic human interaction . The connection between the characters however feels very real and it's in this arena where the plot provokes the most interesting thoughts.

Where to stream: Amazon (paid)

Ex Machina (2014)

Admittedly, this is full-blown AI territory. This film is so damn good though and I stand by my decision. The central premise involves Domnhall Gleeson as a computer programmer who wins the opportunity to visit billionaire tech entrepreneur (Oscar Isaac) in his stylish but remote mansion. Here we discover Alicia Vikander as a robot who appears to be an example of true artificial intelligence. Domnhall’s character is asked to administer the Turing test to determine whether this is correct.

Alex Garfield’s (28 Days Later) directorial debut provides a fascinating and neat plot that, with only five characters in total, allows the audience to explore themes on an intimate scale. There is a particular use of data which influences one aspect of AI in the film but… it’s probably not suitable for here. You’ll have to watch.

Where to stream: Netflix

Hope you enjoy the above and, as always, I welcome any comments or further recommendations. Have a great weekend!