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Overlooked & Underrated Docs & Features
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The Great Hack: Our Cyberpocalypse
There are two foci in Karim Amer’s and Jehane Noujaim’s “The Great Hack”—a stunning documentary film about web-based manipulations of human attitudes and behaviors. The first focus is the rise and fall of Cambridge Analytica—the British firm many believe gave the 2016 presidential election to Trump. The second, more revelatory focus is on the ubiquitous use of web-based technology to influence human behavior.
With ultra-high production values, the film follows several individuals who either worked for Cambridge Analytical, or were following its socio-economic-political impacts. As the film progresses, as we learn these stories and details of persuasion and manipulation, the meta focus on the rise of cyber businesses and nation-state persuasion players emerges. An implicit picture is painted of a world so dominated by cyber influence, us inhabitants become virtual sheep to the slaughter of authentic freedom.
“The Great Hack” is a Netflix film. I heartily suggest that if you do not have Netflix, find someone who does, and see this film.