Film Review – Downloaded

In 1999, the peer-to-peer file sharing service Napster made its debut,
and nobody could explain exactly what the intent was for such a radical
service. In 2013, the mystery of Napster’s final destination is still in
question. Director Alex Winter (helmer of “Freaked” and co-star of the
“Bill & Ted” pictures) attempts to summarize the rise and fall of
Napster in “Downloaded,” a documentary with a specific aim to dissect
the service using interviews with important figures in its winding
history. Winter arrives with good intentions, a ripping pace, and smart
editorial control, but he doesn’t provide a fresh angle on old news,
reheating file footage and assembling unenlightening interviews when
this particular event in the ongoing internet revolution deserves a more
profound understanding of motivation and influence.
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