Conspiracy Theory

Paranoia is a popular attitude in the United States in recent years and the creation of bogie men would seem to be a prevalent art form. The idea that groups of power mad power mad quasi government agencies conspire to subvert what little is left of democracy is all the go in forums on the internet and on talk back T.V. and radio.

The growth of the disadvantaged and the disenfranchised has been exponential since the world's economy went global, and a terrific way to cope mentally with such an exclusion from the ranks of the middle classes, and those with jobs, is to get paranoid and to believe in conspiracy theories. But what if one of the theories is true?

Mel Gibson plays Jerry Fletcher a New York cabbie who is scared and suspicious and crazy in a Mel Gibson wild eyed way. Jerry publishes a newsletter full of distracted conspiracy theories, and then men in dark vans start chasing him. Conspiracy Theory is full of the black vans which are de rigeur for spy films these days.

Gibson is ideal for such a part. His most famous films, the Lethal Weapon series saw him not paranoid, but suicidally heart broken, with all of that nearly out of control madness that is his trademark, high energy acting style.

Gibson can play low energy parts, such as the disfigured teacher in Man Without A Face, but he's most recognisable, and most successful with his eyes darting, his face twitching, and with madness, or at least craziness nearby.

Julia Roberts plays Alice Sutton who's a serious minded New York Justice Department attorney. (You can see by now that Conspiracy Theory is certainly a mainstream, Hollywood film.) Jerry feels compelled to pester her with his latest ideas regarding the evils of "them" who are really in control.

What lifts Conspiracy Theory above the run of mill film material is the performances of the leads. If you enjoy classic 1990's stars acting well, then Conspiracy Theory has the lot, from two of the best in the business.

Julia Roberts is the queen of the intelligently vulnerable and appears to wear her heart on her sleeve, or more rightly on her face. Julia Roberts is one of the most recognisable and affectionately regarded actresses about.

But Conspiracy Theory isn't just another boring Hollywood love tale, with the kisses given between gun blasts, but more a tale of friendship and of trust, which is much more interesting.

There's a bit of intrigue for those who like to think a little when they go to the movies, but still with a good quota of exciting action with a Mel Gibson humourous manic twist,

With director Richard Donner on the set, who also directed the Lethal Weapon films, what else would you expect?