MovieChat Forums > Sneakers (1992) Discussion > Decryptor 'Out in the Open'

Decryptor 'Out in the Open'

posted 13 years ago by sbaker777
13 replies | jump to latest

After Bishop was taken to Cosmo's office, and they talked about "changing the world", Bishop asks if Cosmo has gone crazy. When Cosmo doesn't react, Bishop states that he is crazy and Cosmo reacts by threatening to "expose" Bishop through the FBI's database, which he can now hack into, courtesy of the "decryptor" chip. The chip would have had to be "hard-wired" into a computer to achieve this. Why was the chip back "out in the open" in the carrying case when Bishop went to steal it back? It should have still been installed in the computer, unless they were planning on moving it and using it from a different location. Just a little plot hole uncovered.

[–] jun19fan40 13 years ago

You sir are the plot hole.

[–] sbaker777 13 years ago

Wrong sir... I am the butt hole that found the plot hole! And next time sir, use punctuation! (note the comma)

BTW... nice rebuttal and non sequitur. Remember, if you don't have anything to say prudent to the subject, don't!

[–] jun19fan40 13 years ago

No. You are the one that is not being logical here. There are many nitpicks that make this movie a bit childish, and the fact that you brought up this crap exemplifies your cognition. One can easily suspend his or her disbelief to the point where it makes sense for the chip to be used the same way it was earlier in the film. You might as well have brought up the fact that less than 5% of the male population will lose so little hair as Robert Redford and the rest are not so lucky.

[–] sbaker777 12 years ago

The fact that I'm bringing this up at all, means that I AM being logical. What the hell does logic have to do with this "fantasy-fact" type movie anyway? Yes, you can nitpick this movie to death, but I still like it enough to have watched it too many times to admit. And by the way, I'm in that 5%... I'm fifty and have more hair that Redford had in the movie.
For arguments sake... again... here is a response to my query and MY response to that response:
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Well, when the Sneakers first tested it, it looked to me like they merely had to plug a DB-25 (or maybe more) connector in, and use a probe to find the data terminal on the circuit board. So it's not hard to disconnect. I forget, but was it still on the desk next to the keyboard, and not put into the answering machine case and another case at this point in the movie, and you're noting this inconsistency, or something more substantial?
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When they (Sneakers) first tested it, they had to pull out a bunch of diagnostic tools... hardly what Cosmo and his ilk were going to do every time they wanted to decrypt something.

What I was trying to convey, was that Cosmo had to have the chip hard-wired into the super-computer that he and Bishop sat on, in the quiet room, to have accessed the FBI database, and "out" Marty. The question is, why was it back out in the open, AFTER that point? To me... if they were going to use it any more, it would have stayed in the computer room, or at least under lock and key. To just be laying around on a desk, no matter the security measures, doesn't measure up - LOL. The only other reason for it to be out, was if they were planning on taking it to the "organized crime" people to sell. But Cosmo seemed to want to "change" the world in his own way, so he would have at least wanted to keep it on premises and do the Mafia's work from there. THE only reason it was out in the open, was to have a way for Bishop and the Sneakers to get it back. Movie magic and poetic license.

[–] shayg 12 years ago

Well, when the Sneakers first tested it, it looked to me like they merely had to plug a DB-25 (or maybe more) connector in, and use a probe to find the data terminal on the circuit board. So it's not hard to disconnect. I forget, but was it still on the desk next to the keyboard, and not put into the answering machine case and another case at this point in the movie, and you're noting this inconsistency, or something more substantial?

[–] sbaker777 12 years ago

When they (Sneakers) first tested it, they had to pull out a bunch of diagnostic tools... hardly what Cosmo and his ilk were going to do every time they wanted to decrypt something.

What I was trying to convey, was that Cosmo had to have the chip hard-wired into the super-computer that he and Bishop sat on, in the quiet room, to have accessed the FBI database, and "out" Marty. The question is, why was it back out in the open, AFTER that point? To me... if they were going to use it any more, it would have stayed in the computer room, or at least under lock and key. To just be laying around on a desk, no matter the security measures, doesn't measure up - LOL. The only other reason for it to be out, was if they were planning on taking it to the "organized crime" people to sell. But Cosmo seemed to want to "change" the world in his own way, so he would have at least wanted to keep it on premises and do the Mafia's work from there. THE only reason it was out in the open, was to have a way for Bishop and the Sneakers to get it back.

[–] shayg 12 years ago

I see; once Cosmo had it, he would have integrated it securely into the system and be done with it, since he had big plans for it. So it's almost as if that scene with Cosmo outing Marty didn't occur, and it was still there on the desk waiting to be used. Definitely fits the mold of a "goof". They should have simply had Cosmo threaten Marty in a different way that didn't need the chip.

[–] sbaker777 12 years ago

Thanks Shay... at least two of us "get" it.

[–] sbaker777 12 years ago

They should have simply had Cosmo threaten Marty in a different way that didn't need the chip.

That, or just had the Sneakers find a way in and take the chip out of a computer and cut that whole entire "heat sensor" scene. That was the only scene, that I can think of, off the top of my head that made the movie a little less believable. I would have totally re-written that scene. Gimme about 5 minutes... LOL

[–] april_rain 12 years ago

You have a point. The only answer I can come up with is that it was not safe to leave it connected to a supercomputer where it could be traced. It was a wiser thing to remove it from the computer when its not being used.

cosmo could have removed the "answering machine" cover and stored the card in an unhooked computer or some other device. The idea is to make it look like a normal piece of hardware that an intruder wouldn't be able to identify easily. It was funny to see the answering machine sitting on the table for anyone to see.

[–] zerowing-1 8 years ago

I've always attributed that to Cosmo's hubris. He couldn't imagine anyone getting past his security measures, so he felt no need to lock it in a safe or something. Can't say I blame him, though--he did have very good security.

[–] sbaker777 8 years ago

Security that WAS overcome. 

Wow... this thread is over 4 years old. Thanks for your contribution!

Shoot him, cut out his tongue, then shoot his tongue.

[–] zerowing-1 8 years ago

I am the thread reanimator 😀