Conspiracy Theory (1997)
Directed by Richard Donner
A man obsessed with conspiracy theories becomes a target after one of his theories turns out to be true. Unfortunately, in order to save himself, he has to figure out which theory it is.
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What critics compared Conspiracy Theory to
She’s also the most thrillingly unhinged central protagonist of a major American motion picture since Mel Gibson in “Conspiracy Theory.”
Mostly directed by Brian Helgeland (writer of Gibson's "Conspiracy Theory" and the "L.A. Confidential" screenplay) -- I'll explain the "mostly" in a minute -- "Payback" is photographed in steel blue hues to give it the gritty look of cheap film stock, and everything from the camera movement to the funk-inspired score has a heavy '70s influence, although the film takes place in no set time or place.
Debut director Brian Helgeland, who wrote the screenplay with a late rewrite by Terry Hayes (Dead Calm), has churned out scripts for the Oscar-winning hit L.A. Confidential (with Curtis Hanson) and Gibson?s lackluster Conspiracy Theory, as well as the Kevin Costner clunker The Postman (with Eric Roth).
You may notice that I've concentrated on Gibson in this review, rather than screenwriter/director Brian Helgeland (he's best known for co-writing L.A. Confidential , but his credits also include the so-so Gibson vehicle Conspiracy Theory).
The actual invasion, in the narrative and dialogue, is timed to arrive about 30 minutes into this directorial debut of Brian Helgeland, writer of L.A. Confidential as well as Conspiracy Theory.
Mel Gibson, in yet another disappointing picture ("Conspiracy Theory" and "Lethal Weapon 4," anyone?), stars as the reprehensible villain/hero, Porter, a man who becomes determined to get his 50% share of $140,000, which he stole in a robbery, back when his partner-in-crime (Gregg Henry) and drug-addicted wife (Deborah Kara Unger) double-cross him, shoot him, and leave him for dead.
I'm not usually a fan of movies whose main element is gunfire, but I have to admit that Brian Helgeland's background as a writer ( L.A. Confidential , Conspiracy Theory) helped him immensely in his big-screen directorial debut.
Freaky paranoid Marvin (John Malkovich) is hiding out heavily armed in the Florida swamps, like a more amped-up version of Mel Gibson in Conspiracy Theory.
Based on Sylvia Nasar's novel of the same name and coming off as something of a cross between "Good Will Hunting" and "Conspiracy Theory," the film is one of the best of 2001 and should be highly recognized come the end of the year awards time.
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He this movie's equivalent of the Mel Gibson character in "Conspiracy Theory" -- another recent entry in the "they're out to get me" genre.