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Blackmail, Murder & Mayhem

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Conspiracy Theory

Conspiracy Theory

List Price: $12.97
Your Price: $9.08
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Yeah, Baby!!
Review: Conspiracy Theory is an amazing movie because it introduces to a crazy New York City cab driver, white male, conservative, right wing, probably a little bit of fundamentalist; and in about five seconds, it makes us love him. We laugh with him, cry with him, sometimes laugh at him, and in the end we'll actually believe him. It's Good.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Lethal Theory
Review: CONSPIRACY THEORY is a decent and entertaining thriller enhanced by the presence of Mel Gibson, the direction of Richard Donner (Lethal Weapon, Superman), a good female lead performance by Julia Roberts and a good villian played, by all people, Patrick Stewart (Star Trek: The Next Generation). Lastly, its enhanced by the New York City locations. Perhaps the film was made a little too late and it would have fit well with some of the great paranoid thrillers of the 1970's (i.e. Marathon Man, Three Days of the Condor). Gibson is a New York City cab driver who puts out a newsletter of government conspiracies. Somehow he hits upon one that may expose a mind controlling experiment group funded by the government and headed by Stewart (as Jonas). Gibson is then pursued and kidnapped by this underground group. Then, finds out that he may have a forgotten past life linked to this group and to Justice Deaprtment Agent, Roberts. Gibson's character of the paranoid cab driver Jerry Fletcher is great. Some may complained it was a little over the top or a little cartoony. However, one of the highlights of the character is his New York City inner city apartment that is claustophobic as it is filled with junk, papers, books (has a fixation and a collection of many copies of ...surprise, A Catcher in the Rye)and cockroaches. A unique aspect is the padlocked refridgerator when opened, has cannisters of food that are also padlocked. Lastly the apartment is boobytrapped for any unauthorized entry. This alone was an interesting part of the film and Mel Gibson's character. The film may seem a little lengthy especially when viewed on network television and padded with commericals (it runs 3 hours on tv). Otherwise, the film is entertaining containing good suspense, action and a somewhat of an unrequited love story between Gibson and Roberts. Good weekend afternoon popcorn film after all the football games are over.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Mel and Julia...not bad
Review: As an American, and a lover of suspense films, it's almost disconcerting that films about devious behavior from the FBI or CIA should be so entertaining. IN THE LINE OF FIRE (Wolfgang Peterson's brilliant film, with Eastwood & Malkovich) is absolutely riveting, and this pairing of Mel & Julia, with Donner directing, was almost as good. I DO really like Julia Roberts. She's a fine and insightful actress. Mel transcended his 3 Stooges imitation (from the LETHAL WEAPON films), and was completely convincing as a paranoid good-guy. As much as I like Mel, Julia's strength to carry the film really comes through. There's great editing (for suspense) and fine photography of some great NYC sites. And Ben Kingsley was so bad, I wanted to bite his nose. This will keep you guessing till the end. I won't give anything away, except that Mel & Julia are the good guys and they're great together.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: What a wonder!
Review: This movie is great! It contains an amazing combination of elements - humor, intensity, romance, and mystery. The plot is very well thought out and surprising. Mel Gibson plays a somewhat insane but brilliant character who is paranoid and has theories about everything. The reasons for everything come out as the movie progresses. I almost didn't want to watch it because I love Gibson and didn't want to see him act crazy, but I am so glad that I got over that. He is incredible (as is the movie)! Julia Roberts also plays her role superbly. There is some profane language, and one very intense torture scene that can be easily fast-forwarded, but other that the movie is clean.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Good Late Night Movie!
Review: I bought this DVD because I really like Julia Roberts as an actress. Let me tell you, it was quite different then any other movie I have seen. Mel Gibson did a great job as Jerry. I have to admit, I was a bit confused at times but all in all, it was a great movie and was very creepy, as I watched it late at night. The ending to me was not what I expected but it was still great. If you are into on the edge of your seat thrillers, this is the one for you. I highly recommend this.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Just because you¿re paranoid...
Review: Just because you are paranoid does not mean they are not out to get you.

The title says it all and you have seen it a million times. You have to figure out who the good guys are and who the bad guys are shades of the "Bourn Identity" appear as Jerry Fletcher (Mel Gibson) must find out not only who they are but who he is? And will Alice Sutton (Julia Roberts) believe him or not or is she the bad guy or a target?

Aside from the plot is powerful acting by powerful actors. How do they handle trust?

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: One of the best Mel Gibson movies ever!
Review: I really like Mel Gibson as an actor, he really PLAYS in his movies, not just flaunts his muscles, appearance or whatever, besides, he belongs to Hollywood "minority" who actually graduated from a Theatre High School. Also I consider this movie to be one of his masterpieces, because he plays a paranoid conspiracy theorist SO well, that every tiniest detail of his mimick makes you believe his play. Even Julia Roberts played well in some scenes. This is one of my favorite movies, and all because of the actors' play. The plot itself is irrelevant, in my opinion. With such a play, virtually any plot would do the trick.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Musta missed this one at the movies
Review: I would call it a sleeper in my books as I missed it on the big screen.
HIGH intensity with great twist and turns throughout. I agree, the ending was kinda predictable but then again, I was in need of a break. I was kinda a waiting for yet another AHH HAA! But nope. It was good though. Put me in mind of the SQUEEZE with Micheal Keaton and Ray Dawn Chong... never heard of it? See what I mean! GREAT MOVIES await on VIDEO!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Letdown Ending
Review: In "Conspiracy Theory" Mel Gibson stars as New York cabbie Jerry Fletcher who has a very suspicious mind. Jerry scans all the news outlets for random acts that, upon further inspection, don't seem so random after all. One of Jerry's theories is that NASA has developed a seismic weapon attached to the spaceshuttle that they can use to start earthquakes. Jerry thinks that NASA is going to use it to assassinate the president on a trip he's making to Turkey because he's planning on making steep cuts in NASA's budget.

Beside his newsletter, "Conspiracy Theory", Jerry also tells his theories to Alice Sutton (Julia Roberts), a Justice Department attorney. Alice puts up with Jerry's erratic behavior and wild theories because he saved her from a mugger.

Everything is going okay for Jerry until he is kidnapped while trailing what he believes are intelligence agents, most likely from the CIA. That's where Jerry meets, and bites, Dr. Jonas (Patrick Stewart).

"Conspiracy Theory" is an interesting story that holds your attention throughout most of it. As I was watching it I kept expecting some really big revelation to occur that would be the most outrageous conspiracy theory ever. It kept me interested until the moment when the real conspiracy was revealed.

The revelation of the conspiracy in "Conspiracy Theory" is by far the movie's weakest aspect. After I figured out what was going on I thought, "I watched this whole movie for that?!".

The movie does hold your attention if you are a first time viewer and the performances of the lead players are good to excellent. Not that I'm a fan of hers, but Roberts is wasted in the role of Alice. For a federal attorney, Alice seems a bit soft and pliant except at the end. The only reason that Alice becomes a proactive player seems to be because the script calls for it. There is no logical progression from her behavior at the beginning of the movie to its conclusion.

Stewart and Gibson however do very well with their parts. Stewart makes for an excellent villain because he seems so unevil. Unlike some other Hollywood bad guys, Stewart never snears or grimaces or engages in any of the other common mannerisms of a prototypical bad guy. When he arrives on the scene you never can tell which side he's really on until the movie reveals it.

Mel Gibson gives one of the best performances of his career as the very unstable Jerry Fletcher. Gibson has had lots of practice playing the oddball type; but, in "Conspiracy Theory" his character is way beyond odd and even seems psychotic.

The bottom line: Gibson fans may be pleased with this movie but I wouldn't recommend it for a casual viewer. If you want a noodle-scratcher movie, go get "The Usual Suspects".

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: What can be more enjoyable?
Review: Good cast that has it all. Patrick Stewart great as the villain. Julia Roberts with her irresistable good girl charm appeal and Mel Gibson doing what he does best - playing a pyschotic freak!


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