With as distinct a name as Giovanni Ribisi and an distinct career that goes with it with roles in such hit films as "Saving Private Ryan" and "Lost in Translation," you bet your bottom dollar that the acclaimed actor isn't going to use his name when chatting online.

In fact, even if the "Perfect Stranger" star's name were John Smith, its quite likely he would still go with an anonymous moniker.

"I don't think anybody really uses their actual names online, and that's what the movie's about -- the many different characters that we've all assumed in this day and age," Ribisi said in a recent @ The Movies interview. "It's about the masks that they wear and the secrets that they hold and the length they will go to keep those secrets."

In "Perfect Stranger," opening Friday, Ribisi plays Miles Haley, a tech-wiz who cooks up for his fellow investigative reporter Rowena Price (Halle Berry) an online identity which the pair hopes will ferret out the suspected killer of her childhood friend. But as the two dwell deeper into the seductive world of the suspect -- advertising mogul named Harrison Hill (Bruce Willis) -- the more all their secret identities and lurid desires begin to surface.

Of course, "Perfect Stranger" examines the seedier side of the online chatting, but Ribisi is quick to point out that Internet can be beneficial if one approaches it with caution.

"I'm not necessarily saying it's a dangerous thing," Ribisi said. "And I don't know if the progression of the Internet and where we've come or evolved to is a negative thing or to be criticized. But by the same token I think it's something that definitely to be aware of. You have to be watchful. My daughter is growing up in a massively different age than I grew up in. She's 9 years old and already computer savvy. It's worked its way into the grain of our society and culture."

Ribisi himself went to school for computer graphics and had a working knowledge of the industry.

"It's almost embarrassing to say how non-computer savvy I am compared to the character and how that was movie magic," Ribisi said with a laugh.

The interesting thing is, Ribisi took up the computer graphics courses in the midst of his career as an actor, thanks to his involvement of a feature film shot almost entirely in front of a blue screen.

"After doing 'Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow,' I thought that that may be the future of the filmmaking," Ribisi said. "With studio films, it's everywhere and constantly being used, but as far as films being shot totally in front of a blue screen, I think it's becoming more and more prevalent."

Of course, one thing computer graphics have a hard time replicating -- at least for the time being -- is human emotion. And as whiz-bang as the visuals are in "Perfect Stranger," Ribisi said what appeals to him first as a performer is the interaction between the characters.

"What interested me was the dynamics of the relationships that the characters had," Ribisi said. "It's a story that has complexity to it, but in the best way. It's challenging in a way that keeps people wrapped in."

That tension is evident from the get-go in the film, when it becomes obvious that Miles would like to see his relationship with Rowena grow from professional to personal. The problem is, Miles doesn't know how to express that other than in an under-handed way.

"My character enjoys being manipulative, as does Halle's," Ribisi explained. "But what's interesting is, while these characters are in investigative journalism and they like to expose the dark secrets of luminaries and politicians, they wear masks with their own relationship."

Off-camera, of course, the relationships between the acting trio were much different, and Ribisi marveled in the opportunity to appear opposite the seasoned professionals.

"I was really happy to work with Halle and Bruce in that they are still so passionate and so committed to what they do," Ribisi enthused. "Bruce at one point said, 'This should be a $4 million movie' -- which is ironic because that's a cheap film nowadays -- meaning that we should just really be in the trenches on this one and really be fearless, pushing the envelope as you do on smaller films."

While Willis and Ribisi only appear in one scene together, he got to know and respect Willis during cast rehearsals in the actor's apartment prior to filming.

"I have a lot of respect for him. I love the choices that he makes as an actor and the movies he wants to do and support," Ribisi said. "He's in a position where he really has the world at his fingertips, and he's doing movies with directors who have a viewpoint and not fall into a realm of being commercial and exploiting audiences. At the same time he's a guy and he just likes to have fun."

As for working with Berry, Ribisi loved the opportunity to see the Oscar-winning actress chew up the screen with gusto, and watch her run the gamut of emotions.

"And you should see what actually ended up on the ended up on the editing room floor," Ribisi said. "She was so there and she takes chances as an actor. These are the people I want to work with. This is the kind of stuff I want to be involved in."