Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Listening’

Written by Scott Edwards

Trying to correct things that you have done in the past is always difficult. There may be ways that you can show that you are sorry, but when it is already done, you may never be able to atone for it. The best you can do is try and you may be surprised by the results, even if they are not what you expected. Always try to look ahead and see if what you are doing might possibly be frowned upon, especially if you are not sure if you should do it or not.

David Thorogood and Ryan Cates are trying to make a breakthrough in the science of reading people’s minds, but with their lack of money and new ideas, they have reached their plateau, or at least that is what they think. Meeting another graduate student by chance, Jordan has ideas about what can take them to their next step. While David is against bringing her on to the project, Ryan is more than happy to have a new set of ideas and the fact that she is a stunning woman has a little more to do with that. Being able to give the boys a next step by using science that she understands, she informs them that the computer program that they are using cannot handle the information being delivered, so that leaves the group only one option, Brain Interface.

Hooking up a person to listen, the group is able to hear the thoughts inside another person’s head while connected. Knowing that this is the breakthrough that they are looking for, the celebration starts, but is short lived. As both David and Ryan are suffering from money troubles, Ryan decides to sell off the research to pay for his grandmother’s funeral. When word reaches the department head at the school, and the missing equipment has been found in David’s garage, both friends are expelled and arrested. Not being able to believe that his best friend has done this to both of them, David will not give up on Ryan and just wants to talk it out, but Ryan is determined to end the friendship. 

While trying to come to terms with what has happened, the two are greeted by Jordan and her boss, Matthews, who wants them to take over the mind reading project that has been in development for several years. Not having a choice, the two take on the new task that has been put in front of them, but start moving faster than what is expected when a new protocol is put into place. The mind reading device is placed on each of the scientists working in the facility to ensure that none of them are looking to steal the technology. Seeing how his invention is already changing the world, David knows that it will have more of a military function than a scientific one and wants to abandon the project. That is however, more easily said than done when the government is hunting him down.

One of the things that I like about this story is that it opens your eyes to see several possibilities, not just at the big brother level, but at a personal level. With how much hatred that David should be showing at his best friend for selling their ideas, he is not willing to go away, no matter how hard Ryan pushes for it. With both of the men having the same monetary issues, they both handle it completely different and it really keeps the story moving. The addition of Jordan to the team helps them greatly, but is also designed to tear them apart, but does not succeed. Instead with David, it destroys his marriage and life. You gain more respect for each of the characters as the story moves on and while Ryan sees the practical application of his device, David is more worried about the big picture and wants to keep the invention away from anyone that would misuse it. I really dig this movie and while the science may be a little over my head, it was not lost on me as the movie played on.

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