One line - 'Hackers of the world unite' - sums up the sentiments of this computer-age thriller. Director Iain Softley asks us to sympathise with those who penetrate the world's computer systems (led here by Jonny Lee Miller and Angelina Jolie) and maybe infect them, against those who do the same thing for their personal gain. A fine difference, you might think, and one which non-computer buffs (are there any left out there? ) will find hard to deal with. Computer effects here are dazzling if repetitive, even if the technical side of the plot will defeat any layman hands down. Performances are generally unattractive, although only Lorraine Bracco's is less than competent. The implications of it all are suitably frightening and bring into question the right of the computer to dominate the entire business world. 'Manual back-up? ' snarls the chief bad guy (Fisher Stevens). 'There IS no manual back-up! ' (DQ)

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