Billion Dollar Heist

Another archetype of Netflix's so-called "documentaries".

Get a bunch of people who were part of the story to tell it for you. Put together a few drawings to illustrate their thoughts. Zero investigation, no journalistic research whatsoever. You'd think they would send a few investigators on the tail of those cyber-crooks? Interview the only person that was found guilty, the lawyers, the bank? Integrate the small world of hackers to get some insights? Think again. It's hypothesis after hypothesis. Fill the blanks with endless random images representing futuristic network connections around the world along with stressful music, you're done.

The result is what we're all too used to by now; something that looks like a high tech commercial predicting the end of the world by computers, buttered with blend statements on cyber-threats that everyone's well aware of, while watching video clips straight for the Netflix free bank of computer related imagery. You almost end up forgetting what the actual topic is initially about.

That's all it takes in Netflix' view to make a good documentary . This masterpiece would be about 15 mins long if it wasn't for all the fillers. Spare yourself from this garbage.

If you thought that nuclear war, climate change or AI represented the biggest threats to the world - think again. That's the message of this gripping documentary that tells the story of the most daring and audacious bank heist in history - perpetrated not by a bunch of masked figures with automatic weapons and getaway vans, but by a small group of sophisticated hackers and other hired fixers, and started by a simple malware attachment in an email. They got clean away with less than 1/10th of the billion intended. But that's still a vast amount of money for a single job, and more than enough to fund future and increasingly sophisticated crimes.

And if that's what a small group of criminal hackers can do, think what a nation state can achieve if it wants to bring down the entire financial, transportation, communication, energy, industrial, commercial and other essential utility infrastructures of its enemies - essentially to make them grind completely to a halt, putting millions or billions of people at risk. Then look at the world as it is now, with the increasing east-west polarisations of the major powers in the new Cold War. Every reason to be very afraid indeed.

Essential viewing.

"Billion Dollar Heist" is a thought-provoking documentary that delves into the intricate world of high-stakes financial crime. The documentary combines interviews with experts, surveillance footage, and reenactments to piece together the complex stories behind these daring robberies. It explores the methods, and consequences of these crimes, shedding light on the mindset of the perpetrators.

But. While "Billion Dollar Heist" is a compelling documentary, it does have some negative aspects worth noting:

The documentary occasionally revisits the same information or anecdotes, which can lead to a feeling of redundancy. This repetition can make the viewing experience less engaging, particularly for those looking for a more streamlined narrative.

Also, while the documentary does an admirable job of explaining the basics of the cyber heist crimes, it may leave more knowledgeable viewers craving a deeper dive into the intricacies of these heists. It could benefit from more in-depth analysis.

I will rate this 6/10.

Billion Dollar Heist is a well-made documentary that tells the story of the biggest cyberheist in history. The film traces the origins of the crime, from the early days of credit card fraud to the sophisticated hacking techniques used to steal billions of dollars from the Bangladesh Central Bank.

The film does an excellent job of explaining the technical details of the crime in a way that is understandable to non-technical audiences. It also explores the hackers' motivations and the impact of the crime on the victims.

However, the film can be repetitive at times, and it does not provide conclusive answers on who was responsible for the heist. Despite these flaws, Billion Dollar Heist is a must-see for anyone interested in cybercrime or financial security.

The film is narrated by Bill Nighy, and it features interviews with experts in cybercrime, law enforcement, and the financial industry. The film also includes footage of the crime scene and the aftermath of the heist.

Billion Dollar Heist is a sobering reminder of the growing threat of cybercrime. The film shows how even the most secure financial institutions can be vulnerable to attack. The film is a wake-up call for businesses and individuals to take steps to protect themselves from cybercrime.

Overall, Billion Dollar Heist is a well-made and informative documentary that is essential viewing for anyone who wants to understand the threat of cybercrime.

A well documented reenactment of a cyber heist. The story was focused on the subject and wasn't dragging it for too long. Great set of interviews that manages to push emphasize the message of this documentary. Great work with the visuals and animation that's giving the sufficient amount of life to this story. Great use of sound effects and audio to turn up the intensity of the events as they unfold. Admirable ideas are being presented about how we combat this new world threat as a species without driving ourselves into extinction. The views presented in interviews seemed to be adequately moderate leaving the audience enlightened and open minded.