Mel Gibson Movie:

Editorial Review:
What is it about director Richard Donner that Mel Gibson enjoys so much that he's appeared in five of Donner's films? Is it the on-set pranks? Could it be the big-budget perks and $20-million paychecks? Or is it just a well-stocked catering table? Whatever the case, the Lethal Weapon star and director teamed up again, along with fellow superstar Julia Roberts, for this typically glossy, entertaining but ultimately hokey thriller. Gibson plays New York cab driver Jerry Fletcher, whose wacky belief in conspiracies finally hits on a coincidental truth involving an evil figure named Jonas (Patrick Stewart) and a secret program of government-funded mind control. Roberts plays the Justice Department attorney who finally believes in Jerry's paranoid ramblings. With a plot (from LA. Confidential cowriter Brian Helgeland) that's a lot of fun as long as you don't think about it too critically, Conspiracy Theory benefits immeasurably from the charisma of its high-magnitude stars. --Jeff Shannon

Conspiracy Theory [Blu-ray] Reviews:
Conspiracy Theory
2009-11-18 - The DVD plays beautifully. No problems with sound, etc. But once again, another DVD that has nothing on the DVD itself except small writing around the hole in the middle.

There's no reason to see this-- decent star vehicle for its time, but not much else.
2009-09-14 - This movie really doesn't stand up to the test of time. I'm sure it was a decent star vehicle for Mel Gibson, who turns in one of his usual stunt performaces as an insane conspiracy nut stalking Julia Roberts, who is competent and tender in her role as an attorney haunted by her father's death. But beyond the presence of those two actors, the premise, plot, and themes of this movie don't make much sense or hold much interest 12 years after its release.

The story is really the problem here-- the film leaves the connection between the two lead characters unexplained until the final scenes, and when it is finally revealed, it all seems unbelievable and conveniently contrived. The hokey plot about unknown and shadowy covert agencies is not credible in the least. And the themes are problematic as well--there's: "Just because your paranoid doesn't mean they aren't watching you!" and then the even worse: "Just because your an insane stalker doesn't mean she won't fall in love with you!". Both are way to stupid to hang such a long movie on, and aren't rendered in a believable way.

(By the by, just how many movies does Mel get tortured and beaten to death in? It seems like quite the running theme---Mel, tortured, beaten, shot, stabbed, and run ragged, finds dying solace in the arms of a saintly female who weeps over his mangled body...???)

Anyhow, unless you are just a huge fan of either of the two lead actors, I wouldn't bother with this movie. It isn't horrible, it's just not very good.

Good, smart and funny movie!
2009-05-03 - Stunning performance by Mel Gibson, he is very believable as a pranoid conspiracy buff. So is Julia Roberts she holds herself very nicely in this film. The film is fast paced and rather interesting. I recommend this to anyone.

Conspiracy Theory
2009-03-03 - Excellent cast that carrys you with them. The movie has some twists that keep you guessing. Well performed. Enjoy!

Excellent protrayal of a MKULTRA victim
2009-02-11 - This is the best movie I have ever seen portraying MKULTRA brainwashing atrocities committed by our government. I was awed and amazed at Mil Gibson's ability to accurately portray a target of the CIA's horrible brainwashing experiments intended to create the perfect spy -- an assassin who didn't know he was an assassin. I was also impressed Julia Roberts and the rest of the cast not to mention the excellent camera work and the overall production quality of the movie. With new evidence surfacing continually showing that MKULTRA did not stop with the 1975 Congressional Church committees investigation I was surprised to see this information divulged in this movie. The producer and diretor did not miss any detail in depicting the life of a targetted whistleblower.