Boring

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

***SPOILERS*** The film "Shadow Conspirsey" comes across like a combination of "Three Days of the Condor" & "The Terminator" with this Arnold Schwarzenegger like hit man known as "the Agent", Stephen Lang, who despite unlike Arnold, in the aforementioned movie, being human seems to be indestructible as well as not answering to the both laws of nature or those of the, local as well as national, Justice Department! This mechanical like goon who never says a word throughout the entire movie goes around killing people at will with nobody able or willing to stop him. That's until he starts to tangle with the star of the show or film top presidential adviser Bobby Bishop, Charlie Sheen.What we find out almost as soon as the movie begins is that in the pay CIA contractor Prof.Yuri Pochenko, Theodore Bikel, uncovers a plot to knock off the President of the United States played by a very stiff looking Sam Waterman. It's President Sam who's about to cut off all military spending and used that money to improve the lives of the American people: Way to go Pres! It's then that "The Agent" is unpleased to put an end to Prof. Pochenko's group of dedicated and loyal Americans attempt to expose this group of men high up in the government and military by murdering them including Prof. Pochenko! That's before Prof.Pochenko let the cat out of the bag by getting in touch with Bobby Bishop about their evil plans that they have for the nation.Now a marked man and with Washington Herald top investigative reporter Amanda Givens played by Linda Hamilton, who also stared in the similar robot zombie assassin flick "The Termanator", joining him in exposing this shadow conspiracy Booby has no one to turn to. In that everyone he trusts even his mentor and good friend White House insider Jacob Conred, Donald Southerland, can very well be part of the conspiracy!It's the non stop action that saves the movie from putting you to sleep in that its plot is so full of holes and inconsistencies that it makes no sense at all. Bobby & Amanda eventually get to the bottom of what's happening after a number of unbelievable escapes that it takes the suspense out of the movie in knowing that whatever dangers they face, and it's a lot, they'll always literately come up, like in the exciting elevator scene, smelling like roses!***SPOILERS*** The final scene when "The Agent" is about to ice the President and his entire cabinet, even those involved in the conspiracy to ice him, has to be seen to be believed. Using a remote controlled toy attack helicopter, much the attack hellfire drones now used in Afghanistan and Yemen, "The Agent" turns Washington D.C into a free fire zone! Eeven though in the end the good's guys lead by Bobby & Amanda save the day as well as the Presdent's life all they end up getting for their heroic efforts is some time off from their jobs to play a game of basketball!

My Take: Routine political thriller with mediocre action scenes and predictable twists. A rarely seen political thriller, which made a very poor box-office response, I managed to catch THE SHADOW CONSPIRACY on TV just now, and while I was glad that I satisfied my curiosity to see this rare film, I didn't exactly feel this film was all special. Considering the box-office response to it, SHADOW CONSPIRACY is not all quite as bad as critics and the public reacted to it, but still ain't very good to begin with and everything, from script to direction, is pretty predictable. Charlie Sheen plays the presidential assistant who finds himself caught up with assassins and chases (a lot of them) when he discovers a deadly conspiracy which lurks amongst the White House staff. After a professor is murdered, Sheen aids the help of ex-flame reporter Amanda Givens (Linda Hamilton) to uncover the traitor and unlock the conspiracy of the title. But this script, written by Adi Hasak & Ric Gibbs, are pedestrian as they come, not much differing from other White House conspiracy thrillers as in ABSOLUTE POWER and MURDER AT 1600. Some considerable talents (Donald Sutherland, Ben Gazzara and Stephen Lang) try their best on a routine script, but rarely saves it from predictability of the script. Not to mention a ludicrous scene which involves a toy helicopter, which seems far too silly and out-of-place in this "serious" political thriller. THE SHADOW CONSPIRACY has its moments I'm sure, some of which are much to under-appreciated (director George Pan Cosmatos serves up some decent chase scenes), but none of which lifts this routine thriller of which there's not much payoff or surprises. Rating: ** out of 5.

This film can be very easily summarized as an average thriller. The films' premise, , locations, and action scenes are exactly that: average. The film's saving graces are in its actors, storyline execution, and music.The acting isn't top notch but its good. Charlie Sheen does rather well in the role of Bobby Bishop, the young Presidential aide who gets unintentionally swept up in a dangerous conspiracy, though his youth hurts the credibility of the character. Donald Sutherland put son a good performance as Joseph Conrad, the White House Chief of Staff, with one of his best "trust me" roles as a good guy who turns out to be not so good. Linda Hamilton does all right in the role of the journalist and Bishop's love interest Amanda Givens, though she seems a bit too old for Bishop. Stephen Lang does incredibly well in the role of the role of the villain who manages to thwart our heroes at every turn. Short appearances by Gore Vidal as a Congressman and Sam Waterston as the President also help the film. The execution of the story is slightly above average. The idea of a conspiracy against the President is nothing knew but having members of the President's inner circle be responsible seems to be the most original idea of the film and the plot holes are caused not by the story but by the film's action sequences.The film's other plus is its music. The music score by Bruce Broughton is terrific. It does incredibly well over what would otherwise have been a very unimpressive main title sequence by adding a thundering, patriotic tone. The music adds some much needed suspense to many of the films otherwise tired scenes, especially the finale.The rest of the film is otherwise average. The plot of the government plotting against the President (previously seen in films like Seven Days In May) returns once more, though not to the great effect it was used in that 1960's classic. The action sequences in the film are not only average, but are the main source of the plot holes. The action sequence in a White House elevator shaft serves as a major point. How does Bishop, who is wanted by the Secret Service, manage to not only get in the White House but to escape from it as well? This is one of many examples from the film. The only action sequence that manages to go above average is the finale sequence: the assassination attempt. It is the only sequence in the film that manages to hold suspense despite the fact that the assassination method is silly.Despite the average nature of most of the film, this is still worth watching. The acting, plot , and music make this film worth watching. Besides, it is a pretty good way to spend 100 minutes in front of your TV.

If one realizes that George Cosmatos meant this story to be told as a '70s style "B" thriller, you will enjoy this movie for its acurate portrayal. When I first tuned to this movie I assumed I was watching somthing from 1977. Only when I saw the age of the famous actors (and the cell phone) did I realize it was set in 1997. The details of style are depicted perfectly, from the split screen focus for foreground and back, to the assasin having 2 different color eyes. The acting is said to be poor, but instead I say it was edited with poorer takes to remain true to the "B" movie genre. If you enjoyed "Patriot Games" or "Pelican Brief" you may feel this story is shallow and weak. I was rivited to this story front to back.