1st watched 2/25/2002 - 4 out of 10(Dir-George P. Cosmatos): Predictable action thriller where any frequent movie goer could guess what was coming next. Charlie Sheen is the good old boy to the President who just happens to be not liked by the rest of the presidential staff. Of course, he gets involved in a situation where he's framed over and over again and he has one friend in the White House, played by Sutherland, who naturally doesn't stay that way for very long. His other friend is a reporter played by Linda Hamilton(who has very little to do or say in this meaningless role), and of course his biggest and bestest friend is the President himself(Sam Waterston) who stays his pal till the end despite everyone else being killed around him. Brainless yet action-packed meaningless trife despite loads and loads of acting talent(all pretty much wasted.)
55 Reviews
Implausible plot
jotix10022 September 2004
One wonders how did this screen play got to be made into a thriller movie. The writers had no clue into the many holes they were creating in a story so predictable as this. At the same time, one has to question the studio as to why this movie was approved. The director George Cosmatos must have a more clout among the Hollywood bigwigs than we can think.
I never saw this film when it had a commercial run. It was recently shown on cable, and not having anything better to watch, decided to take a chance. Wow, it's that bad.
The film could have used a more likable hero than Bobby Bishop, blandly played by Charlie Sheen, who whispers his lines incomprehensibly. The pairing of Linda Hamilton with Sheen doesn't add anything to the movie. Donald Sutherland must have a lot to explain to his friends in how he accepted to appear in this picture.
I never saw this film when it had a commercial run. It was recently shown on cable, and not having anything better to watch, decided to take a chance. Wow, it's that bad.
The film could have used a more likable hero than Bobby Bishop, blandly played by Charlie Sheen, who whispers his lines incomprehensibly. The pairing of Linda Hamilton with Sheen doesn't add anything to the movie. Donald Sutherland must have a lot to explain to his friends in how he accepted to appear in this picture.
Shallow 'Shadow'.
vip_ebriega7 July 2008
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.
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.
Exciting, not great
vchimpanzee10 February 2005
Bobby Bishop's role in the White House was never made clear, but when they needed him, they sent a helicopter, and he arrived in a conference room full of suits still wearing his sweaty Princeton sweatshirt. Once he cleaned up and put on his own suit, Bishop went before the press to clear up a public relations problem--after reminding a certain congressman what could happen if said congressman didn't help.
A secret meeting with Prof. Pochenko promised to reveal something not quite kosher in the White House. But a man with a gun wanted the information to stay secret. So Bishop spent the rest of the movie on the run and trying to uncover secrets with the help of Washington Herald reporter Amanda Givens. Meanwhile, someone was capable of monitoring pretty much every phone call that took place in the movie.
I like Charlie Sheen better as a womanizing jerk, but he was just fine here. Both Sheen characters know how to scheme and lie and otherwise be quite charming to get what they want. Donald Sutherland did a credible job as the White House Chief of Staff who didn't have faith in the President's ability. And Sam Waterston didn't exactly inspire confidence as the President. Linda Hamilton was good as Amanda.
This wasn't a great action thriller, but it was good nevertheless. Too violent for my taste (and there was a stern warning on the TV station I watched, even after the movie was cleaned up for TV), but I enjoyed the chases and the occasional comedy.
A secret meeting with Prof. Pochenko promised to reveal something not quite kosher in the White House. But a man with a gun wanted the information to stay secret. So Bishop spent the rest of the movie on the run and trying to uncover secrets with the help of Washington Herald reporter Amanda Givens. Meanwhile, someone was capable of monitoring pretty much every phone call that took place in the movie.
I like Charlie Sheen better as a womanizing jerk, but he was just fine here. Both Sheen characters know how to scheme and lie and otherwise be quite charming to get what they want. Donald Sutherland did a credible job as the White House Chief of Staff who didn't have faith in the President's ability. And Sam Waterston didn't exactly inspire confidence as the President. Linda Hamilton was good as Amanda.
This wasn't a great action thriller, but it was good nevertheless. Too violent for my taste (and there was a stern warning on the TV station I watched, even after the movie was cleaned up for TV), but I enjoyed the chases and the occasional comedy.
Do-it-yourself Mystery Science Theater 3000 kit.
thefan-214 May 1999
MST3K fodder. It's so bad it's actually worth seeing just for that reason. There are some hilarious things in it, such as the mysterious device the bad guy is seen working on for the whole movie, that turns out to be this tiny helicopter that flutters around carrying and firing a machine gun without so much as a wobble, but is brought down by a bag of balloons (the kind they release at political conventions). Many other wonderful touches of that sort. Stars Charlie Sheen. There's one scene where he spends five minutes recording a conversation, only to drop the microcassette in the Potomac River by accident. If they'd cast Emilio Estevez in the part that never would've happened.
Ghastly and stupid.
pennysworth29 January 2006
Warning: Spoilers
I just saw this on a local independent station in the New York City area. The cast showed promise but when I saw the director, George Cosmotos, I became suspicious. And sure enough, it was every bit as bad, every bit as pointless and stupid as every George Cosmotos movie I ever saw. He's like a stupid man's Michael Bey--with all the awfulness that accolade promises.
There's no point to the conspiracy, no burning issues that urge the conspirators on. We are left to ourselves to connect the dots from one bit of graffiti on various walls in the film to the next. Thus, the current budget crisis, the war in Iraq, Islamic extremism, the fate of social security, 47 million Americans without health care, stagnating wages, and the death of the middle class are all subsumed by the sheer terror of graffiti.
A truly, stunningly idiotic film.
There's no point to the conspiracy, no burning issues that urge the conspirators on. We are left to ourselves to connect the dots from one bit of graffiti on various walls in the film to the next. Thus, the current budget crisis, the war in Iraq, Islamic extremism, the fate of social security, 47 million Americans without health care, stagnating wages, and the death of the middle class are all subsumed by the sheer terror of graffiti.
A truly, stunningly idiotic film.
Lazy plot writing, waste of a promising cast
eurograd22 May 2011
Warning: Spoilers
This is one of those movies whose cast and trailer sound promising, only to drop the ball altogether when you watch it. It is no surprise it bombed miserably on the ticket booth.
It was yet another conspiracy movie of they stream that peaked with Enemy of State in the mid-1990s. The Soviets and communists used to offer an easy, credible enemy to write a thriller movie about, so "average" plots could fit well on the screen. Without Soviets around, it became tricky to explore other enemies, and many movies were shot around that time with internal conspiracies within the US government.
The cast is not bad at all, on the contrary, it is quite respectful. Photography is lackluster, though, and the characters are just not credible. The first 5 minutes are definitively the only salvageable part of the movie.
As usual in this type of movie, the real intentions and objectives of characters are not clear from the beginning and there are some twists. Again, unfortunately those twists happen without any explanation or any crescendo that leads to them. It gives the viewer the impression that they needed to turn a "good guy" into a "bad guy" and just did it in a frustrating way.
Were the cast not a A- cast as this is, it would have been a trash movie. The cast, indeed, did a good job on containing damage and ameliorating the failure this movie is.
It was yet another conspiracy movie of they stream that peaked with Enemy of State in the mid-1990s. The Soviets and communists used to offer an easy, credible enemy to write a thriller movie about, so "average" plots could fit well on the screen. Without Soviets around, it became tricky to explore other enemies, and many movies were shot around that time with internal conspiracies within the US government.
The cast is not bad at all, on the contrary, it is quite respectful. Photography is lackluster, though, and the characters are just not credible. The first 5 minutes are definitively the only salvageable part of the movie.
As usual in this type of movie, the real intentions and objectives of characters are not clear from the beginning and there are some twists. Again, unfortunately those twists happen without any explanation or any crescendo that leads to them. It gives the viewer the impression that they needed to turn a "good guy" into a "bad guy" and just did it in a frustrating way.
Were the cast not a A- cast as this is, it would have been a trash movie. The cast, indeed, did a good job on containing damage and ameliorating the failure this movie is.
A Cracking 90's Conspiracy Action Thriller, Much More Exciting Than It's Given Credit For!!!
lukem-527603 September 2021
Bobby Bishop (Sheen) is a close personal advisor to the president but gets out of his depth when shots are fired at him & he learns of a sinister shadow conspiracy within the highest government that is supposed to watch & protect the president.
It's up to Charlie Sheen as Bishop to uncover what is going on & why? Sheen was still a bankable enough star here & i liked 90's Sheen in movies such as the equally awesome & underrated "Terminal Velocity" & the Eastwood Cop Thriller "The Rookie" Sheen was decent back in the day. Here Sheen plays panicked well & he's constantly on the run & the film felt similar to Will Smith's Conspiracy Thriller "Enemy of the State" but that came out later than "Shadow" here. Amongst the cast is Terminator star Linda Hamilton as the local hard-nosed reporter that teams up with Sheen & the veteran movie legend Donald Sutherland as a hugh-up government boss & is supposed to be helping Sheen get to safety!!! Also ww get an unstoppable Assassin role for the scarily intense Stephen Lang (Don't Breathe, VFW) as he pursues Sheen across a rainy Washington DC. I love the 90's look & feel of this comforting Thriller & a decent music score only helps it. There's plenty of action packed scenes that keeps the movie moving constantly & is never boring.
Shadow Conspiracy is a 90's Thriller gem that is probably completely forgotten about today & probably barely made a dent at the box office on it's release way back in 1997 but i like it alot & think it's one entertaining ride. More exciting than it's given credit for.
Also this was director George P. Cosmatos last movie, he made the Cult Classic Stallone Thriller COBRA.
It's up to Charlie Sheen as Bishop to uncover what is going on & why? Sheen was still a bankable enough star here & i liked 90's Sheen in movies such as the equally awesome & underrated "Terminal Velocity" & the Eastwood Cop Thriller "The Rookie" Sheen was decent back in the day. Here Sheen plays panicked well & he's constantly on the run & the film felt similar to Will Smith's Conspiracy Thriller "Enemy of the State" but that came out later than "Shadow" here. Amongst the cast is Terminator star Linda Hamilton as the local hard-nosed reporter that teams up with Sheen & the veteran movie legend Donald Sutherland as a hugh-up government boss & is supposed to be helping Sheen get to safety!!! Also ww get an unstoppable Assassin role for the scarily intense Stephen Lang (Don't Breathe, VFW) as he pursues Sheen across a rainy Washington DC. I love the 90's look & feel of this comforting Thriller & a decent music score only helps it. There's plenty of action packed scenes that keeps the movie moving constantly & is never boring.
Shadow Conspiracy is a 90's Thriller gem that is probably completely forgotten about today & probably barely made a dent at the box office on it's release way back in 1997 but i like it alot & think it's one entertaining ride. More exciting than it's given credit for.
Also this was director George P. Cosmatos last movie, he made the Cult Classic Stallone Thriller COBRA.
Too easy
mfsor7 February 2006
They make everything too easy in this film. It sort of reminded me of Indiana Jones where he hides on the outside of a submarine during an ocean crossing. Everybody knows everything that's going on, it's just real easy to get anyplace you want in the White House. I don't even know why I watched half of it. Because I like Charlie Sheen and Donald Sutherland. I expect the usual ability to dodge bullets from every angle, and be able to run faster than a motorcycle (usually it's faster than a car in a garage or a allyway). It was silly, mostly, and I didn't even know then had a ten-story elevator in the White House. Anyway, anything conspiratorial is always interesting.
Lively and Never Boring
LeonLouisRicci22 July 2012
A lively little B-Movie political thriller that utilizes high-tech surveillance but is hampered by a low-budget. An energetic exercise with not much intrigue but a whole lot of gun-play.
A psycho-killer and a band of conspirators, that are rarely really referenced or fleshed out, attempt to pull of a presidential assassination, so they turn D.C. into a mini war zone chasing one potential foe. The reason for this is not very clear and the convenient contrivances abound.
But it all doesn't matter in this nifty looking movie that has a good deal of style and it is relentless in its montage of cat and mouse shenanigans. Never boring, and that makes up for its limitations and easy essaying.
A psycho-killer and a band of conspirators, that are rarely really referenced or fleshed out, attempt to pull of a presidential assassination, so they turn D.C. into a mini war zone chasing one potential foe. The reason for this is not very clear and the convenient contrivances abound.
But it all doesn't matter in this nifty looking movie that has a good deal of style and it is relentless in its montage of cat and mouse shenanigans. Never boring, and that makes up for its limitations and easy essaying.
Almost a B-movie
Q-Tip-217 August 1999
This movie is filled with so many idiotic moments, that you wonder how it ever got made. For example, they get into the sewers from the Capitol and while they're in the sewers you can see signs pointing to various government buildings, and then they come up in the middle of the street! I highly doubt that government buildings would provide public access through the city sewer system. Anyways, I gave this a 2 instead of a 1 just because of its comic value. I laughed the whole way through at the idiocy of everyone involved in this movie.
Very good indeed
bart-robbrecht1 August 2005
What's all the fuzz ? This is just a really good movie. This movie is the real evidence what a good movie should be for all who like political thrillers. Watch and relax. Don't bother the negativity's. For me a movie is good when it keeps me awake. I can assure you that , in this case it isn't any problem. There is no annoying minute in it. The camera movements are superb. The music score very functional. The acting of the protagonists can't be better. I don't understand why so much comments are negative. Perhaps those people don't like to give positive comments ? Anyway. I only want to give my comment and that's what counts for me. Every review is subjective.
Not a bad movie, but not a great movie
nellanasus22 August 2006
This was not a bad movie, It was not a great movie. But if you like spy/action movies it is worth seeing. It is an entertaining moving. I have to have a minimum of 10 lines to critic this. But I do not think the first critic is correct. So ten lines is an awful lot. My sister says that I don't write enough in letters. How am I supposed to write enough enough in a review. I don't have my glasses on and I cannot see the screen very well, but I thought it would be a good idea to write a review about this movie. It was net that bad of a movie. I'm glad we watched it. Well only one more line to go. Hopefully, this review will be enough for you.
Pretty Sore
refinedsugar14 March 2001
Would you be surprised if I told you this movie deals with a conspiracy? How about if I told you the ringleader was a shadow puppet. You don't believe me, do you? This movie could have used a sense of humor. I can understand Charlie Sheen doing this at the time. It was a low period for him, but everyone else? Donald Sutherland? Linda Hamilton? Don't even get me started on Stephen Lang. He was so much fun as the Party Crasher in 'The Hard Way' and now this? They're all so wasted here.
As for the story ... well it's hokum. Are we supposed to take it seriously? I remember this appearing in theaters!! Sure it didn't last long there, but the point remains. The budget for this film was forty-five million dollars!? No way. Oh Sam Waterson. How great you are in Law & Order. Why are you here demoting yourself to the role of the President of the United States who gets to be shot at by a remote control biplane constructed by the gonzo assassin. I'd write more, but this being directed by the same guy who's credits include Rambo: First Blood Part II and Cobra says more than I ever can.
As for the story ... well it's hokum. Are we supposed to take it seriously? I remember this appearing in theaters!! Sure it didn't last long there, but the point remains. The budget for this film was forty-five million dollars!? No way. Oh Sam Waterson. How great you are in Law & Order. Why are you here demoting yourself to the role of the President of the United States who gets to be shot at by a remote control biplane constructed by the gonzo assassin. I'd write more, but this being directed by the same guy who's credits include Rambo: First Blood Part II and Cobra says more than I ever can.
Poor action and very lazy plotting - may I suggest Enemy of the State?
bob the moo11 January 2002
When political aide Bobby Bishop is warned by an old friend of a high level Government conspiracy before witnessing his murder he finds his life turned upside down and pursued by a trained killer. Unsure of who to trust Bishop teams up with journalist Amanda Givens in a race to uncover the conspiracy and clear his name, but who can he trust as the stakes are raised.
This is ultimately a chase movie, the political conspiracy is nothing more than an assassination plot that is wheeled out at the end. Most of the film is Bishop escaping from the killer and trying to uncover the truth. The conspiracy is pretty thin and you can guess who is involved from the first 20 minutes. The way that Bishop manages to uncover this great conspiracy is far too easy and it makes it all feel too lazy. And the assassination attempt is worth seeing just to laugh at how ridiculous it is - I won't spoilt it for you but trust me, it's totally absurd. That leaves the chase element which is quite dull and gets repetitive.
Sheen is not great here - often he can do well in poor films, such as Terminal Velocity, by giving a fun performance. Here he is serious and hunted and must "do" serious throughout. In fact the cast is actually really good on paper - lots of famous faces, Linda Hamilton, Sutherland, Turturro, Paul Gleason, Sam Waterston and Gore Vidal. Gore Vidal for God's sake! How all these people manage to not see that this was going to be a turkey is beyond me. Hamilton is unbelievable and seems content with the fact that it's not just a TVM. Sutherland does his usual stuff and is quite good. But should a poor film like this deserve a cast this deep?
Overall a poor film that relies on lazy plotting to move it's action along. The conspiracy is easily uncovered and the killer is easily avoided. When even Charlie Sheen describes this as "a piece of s***" then you know it's not going to be good. Avoid this - an alternative is Enemy of the State which has similar themes but is much, much better.
This is ultimately a chase movie, the political conspiracy is nothing more than an assassination plot that is wheeled out at the end. Most of the film is Bishop escaping from the killer and trying to uncover the truth. The conspiracy is pretty thin and you can guess who is involved from the first 20 minutes. The way that Bishop manages to uncover this great conspiracy is far too easy and it makes it all feel too lazy. And the assassination attempt is worth seeing just to laugh at how ridiculous it is - I won't spoilt it for you but trust me, it's totally absurd. That leaves the chase element which is quite dull and gets repetitive.
Sheen is not great here - often he can do well in poor films, such as Terminal Velocity, by giving a fun performance. Here he is serious and hunted and must "do" serious throughout. In fact the cast is actually really good on paper - lots of famous faces, Linda Hamilton, Sutherland, Turturro, Paul Gleason, Sam Waterston and Gore Vidal. Gore Vidal for God's sake! How all these people manage to not see that this was going to be a turkey is beyond me. Hamilton is unbelievable and seems content with the fact that it's not just a TVM. Sutherland does his usual stuff and is quite good. But should a poor film like this deserve a cast this deep?
Overall a poor film that relies on lazy plotting to move it's action along. The conspiracy is easily uncovered and the killer is easily avoided. When even Charlie Sheen describes this as "a piece of s***" then you know it's not going to be good. Avoid this - an alternative is Enemy of the State which has similar themes but is much, much better.
When in doubt....investigate.
michaelRokeefe19 May 2005
Familiar plot. Familiar reaction. Just maybe, the casting pushes this action/drama through to the end. Bobby Bishop(Charlie Sheen)is a major player in Washington D.C. for he is a special assistant to the President(Sam Waterston). Bobby is given a tip that there is a covert action being put into place to overthrow the government. To find out more details he is to meet Professor Yuri Pochenko(Theodore Bikel)only to watch him be gunned down by a sniper. Bobby's mentor, Jacob Conrad(Donald Sutherland), thinks he is just over reacting. Bishop's former girlfriend Amanda Givens(Linda Hamilton)is known as a sharp investigative reporter and is more than willing to help ferret out this much rumored activity. Bishop finds himself running for his life in a chain of chaos and confusion. A Special Agent(Stephen Lang)is hell-bent on killing him before he can blow the whistle on the attack on the existing government.
Ben Gazzara plays Vice President Saxon and Gore Vidal has the role of Congressman Page. Nicholas Turturro is an expert technician in surveillance. The plot does reach a fever pitch and the action is heavy and exciting. The most believable of the cast is Lang, who seems to have unlimited lives. Sutherland's talents are wasted. Sheen may be taxing his abilities. This movie is better than you may think.
Ben Gazzara plays Vice President Saxon and Gore Vidal has the role of Congressman Page. Nicholas Turturro is an expert technician in surveillance. The plot does reach a fever pitch and the action is heavy and exciting. The most believable of the cast is Lang, who seems to have unlimited lives. Sutherland's talents are wasted. Sheen may be taxing his abilities. This movie is better than you may think.
Film Noir References Can't Save Muddled Effort
LongMane14 January 2006
Warning: Spoilers
In the first third of the film, homages to Orson Welles and Alfred Hitchcock kept me entertained. The second and third portions of the film grow progressively worse.
*** spoilers ***
Similarities to "The Man Who Knew Too Much": - "Bernard is murdered ... but before he dies he manages to reveal details of an assassination ..." Similarities to "North by Northwest": fleeing from relentless killers
More Noir: Giant shadow in the alleyway where Bobby flees, cast by light from burning trash barrels. The musical score swells in true 1940s-50s melodramatic style. Sparks illuminate the interior of the (power plant? sewage plant?) The back-lit figure comes down the stone stairs when Bobby is phoning Jake (Donald Sutherland). Shades of Welles. "Touch of Evil" is seen listed on the Georgtown Theatre marquee, after the sniper attempt on Bobby's life. Bobby tries to bug/eavesdrop on a corrupt conversation taking place on the waterfront, but has technical difficulties, much like Charleton Heston in Touch of Evil.
Landmarks - half-buried Poseidon(?) statue is a little like the statue of Liberty scene in Saboteur (1942).
Altogether an enjoyable B Movie to catch on cable some night. Worth it for the cast, score and some of the cinematography.
Weaknesses: OK, the UAV attack on the president, while before its time, came off as silly. The helicopter looks too much like a toy to be menacing, and is easily brought down by a clump of party balloons. If the assassin could get such a large package into the room, why not bring a bomb? How does Jake get into the banquet hall with the pistol? Weren't there metal detectors in 1997? Also weak and inexplicable is the cracker motorcyclist who appears from nowhere, and chases Bobby through the subway station. If they were going that far over the top, why not have the villain drive down the escalator, instead of the stairs? Sam Waterston, engaging in Law and Order, and effective in The Killing Fields (1984), phones in a shrill monotone here, especially in his first scene in the oval office with Sheen. Donald Sutherland has done better with similar characters in Commander and Chief (2005, TV), and JFK (as Mister X).
Having assembled a remarkable cast, beautiful score, and so many allusions to great Noir scenes, why does George Cosmatos leave out so many critical plot points? Who are the "Shadow Conspiracy"? At one point, Hamilton mentions that they tap phones and monitor politicians for signs of corruption. Sounds more like a public service than a menace. What was the content of the president's speech, which would have been so earth-shattering? Make us care.
Why does Charlie Sheen always hook up with older women in these B-Movies? Linda Hamilton is nearly a decade his senior, and Lindsay Crouse (the archaeologist in The Arrival) was born in 1948, *seventeen years* older than Sheen! Perhaps after the sex scandals, they feared the liability involved in casting him opposite young starlets. Chuckle. Linda Fiorentino, in "Beyond the Law", is 5 years older. Nastassja Kinski, born 1959, appeared opposite Sheen in "Terminal Velocity (1994).
*** spoilers ***
Similarities to "The Man Who Knew Too Much": - "Bernard is murdered ... but before he dies he manages to reveal details of an assassination ..." Similarities to "North by Northwest": fleeing from relentless killers
More Noir: Giant shadow in the alleyway where Bobby flees, cast by light from burning trash barrels. The musical score swells in true 1940s-50s melodramatic style. Sparks illuminate the interior of the (power plant? sewage plant?) The back-lit figure comes down the stone stairs when Bobby is phoning Jake (Donald Sutherland). Shades of Welles. "Touch of Evil" is seen listed on the Georgtown Theatre marquee, after the sniper attempt on Bobby's life. Bobby tries to bug/eavesdrop on a corrupt conversation taking place on the waterfront, but has technical difficulties, much like Charleton Heston in Touch of Evil.
Landmarks - half-buried Poseidon(?) statue is a little like the statue of Liberty scene in Saboteur (1942).
Altogether an enjoyable B Movie to catch on cable some night. Worth it for the cast, score and some of the cinematography.
Weaknesses: OK, the UAV attack on the president, while before its time, came off as silly. The helicopter looks too much like a toy to be menacing, and is easily brought down by a clump of party balloons. If the assassin could get such a large package into the room, why not bring a bomb? How does Jake get into the banquet hall with the pistol? Weren't there metal detectors in 1997? Also weak and inexplicable is the cracker motorcyclist who appears from nowhere, and chases Bobby through the subway station. If they were going that far over the top, why not have the villain drive down the escalator, instead of the stairs? Sam Waterston, engaging in Law and Order, and effective in The Killing Fields (1984), phones in a shrill monotone here, especially in his first scene in the oval office with Sheen. Donald Sutherland has done better with similar characters in Commander and Chief (2005, TV), and JFK (as Mister X).
Having assembled a remarkable cast, beautiful score, and so many allusions to great Noir scenes, why does George Cosmatos leave out so many critical plot points? Who are the "Shadow Conspiracy"? At one point, Hamilton mentions that they tap phones and monitor politicians for signs of corruption. Sounds more like a public service than a menace. What was the content of the president's speech, which would have been so earth-shattering? Make us care.
Why does Charlie Sheen always hook up with older women in these B-Movies? Linda Hamilton is nearly a decade his senior, and Lindsay Crouse (the archaeologist in The Arrival) was born in 1948, *seventeen years* older than Sheen! Perhaps after the sex scandals, they feared the liability involved in casting him opposite young starlets. Chuckle. Linda Fiorentino, in "Beyond the Law", is 5 years older. Nastassja Kinski, born 1959, appeared opposite Sheen in "Terminal Velocity (1994).
Great example of Charlie Sheen's Career in Freefall
J. Ryan22 February 2000
Funny thing. Charlie Sheen, Donald Sutherland, Sam Waterston, and Stephen Lang have all had incredible performances. Who can forget Sheen as the callow naif in Wall Street, or Sutherland as the the cynical Korean War surgeon in MASH? Waterston and Lang have both also had successful TV and film careers (Law and Order, Killing Fields, De Niro's Tribeca, etc). So what in the world would any of these fine actors be doing in a stink bomb like this?
Shadow Conspiracy's plot of a Washington coup d'etat is not really that bad, unoriginal maybe but not that bad. Sure it's been done (Seven Days in May - a fine film!), but with a little tweaking, it could still have been entertaining.
Shadow Conspiracy's main problem is in the execution. Early in the film Sheen, political strategist extreme, ridiculously and implausibly resolves a potential public relations gaffe by blackmailing a Congressman. Later, gunplay with Lang's mute hitman tearing up half of what is supposed to be Georgetown is explained on the news as "gang wars". Has anyone remotely associated with this film ever lived a day in Washington? Sheen is about 20 years too young, way way too young, to be so senior in a White House Administration. Sheen's response to avert a political crisis is so ladened with false machismo, he looks as though he attended the David Hasselhoff school of acting. And when was the last time gang wars spread to Georgetown? We're talking about a section of Washington where citizens voted against having a Metro stop so that they could maintain their exclusivity.
I agree with another reviewer that this film would have been unbearable without the fast forward button. I taped it off HBO a year ago and then took 3 separate viewings to plod through it.
In summary: Don't buy this film. Don't even rent this film. If you see it at Blockbuster, run away as fast as you can.
Shadow Conspiracy's plot of a Washington coup d'etat is not really that bad, unoriginal maybe but not that bad. Sure it's been done (Seven Days in May - a fine film!), but with a little tweaking, it could still have been entertaining.
Shadow Conspiracy's main problem is in the execution. Early in the film Sheen, political strategist extreme, ridiculously and implausibly resolves a potential public relations gaffe by blackmailing a Congressman. Later, gunplay with Lang's mute hitman tearing up half of what is supposed to be Georgetown is explained on the news as "gang wars". Has anyone remotely associated with this film ever lived a day in Washington? Sheen is about 20 years too young, way way too young, to be so senior in a White House Administration. Sheen's response to avert a political crisis is so ladened with false machismo, he looks as though he attended the David Hasselhoff school of acting. And when was the last time gang wars spread to Georgetown? We're talking about a section of Washington where citizens voted against having a Metro stop so that they could maintain their exclusivity.
I agree with another reviewer that this film would have been unbearable without the fast forward button. I taped it off HBO a year ago and then took 3 separate viewings to plod through it.
In summary: Don't buy this film. Don't even rent this film. If you see it at Blockbuster, run away as fast as you can.
An Average Thriller
timdalton00714 April 2006
Warning: Spoilers
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.
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.
Oh dear. Bad story, poor acting and glaring plot holes. A poor imitation.
PyrolyticCarbon11 September 2000
This film is bad. It's filled with glaring plot holes, characters who are ruled by stupidity, bad acting and above all, a poor script which has been done before in many, many films, only better. I feel sorry for Donald Sutherland, I just hope he had to do this film rather than wanted to! Miss it.
Entertaining and fun mess
malthenielsen31 March 2020
Warning: Spoilers
It looks to me like most of the cast, maybe also the director, gave up on the movie, and then turned it into an under-the-surface comedy. The balloons fixing everything at the end, Linda Hamilton's comment "I want to see the President! He is my father!" I think were deliberate jokes inserted into the movie.
The plot had some many nonsensical things about it that was funny. But overall it was just some entertaining action scenes, many of the ripped off from Terminator II, including the way the main killer bag guy acted - he really did a great job and I loved his character, even though he was put in a rather bad movie and then was undone by balloons.
The plot had some many nonsensical things about it that was funny. But overall it was just some entertaining action scenes, many of the ripped off from Terminator II, including the way the main killer bag guy acted - he really did a great job and I loved his character, even though he was put in a rather bad movie and then was undone by balloons.
Best if you're old enough to drink while watching. . . . .
GeorgeSickler22 July 2012
Warning: Spoilers
. . . . and, of course, you don't have to drive, you're with friends who have a sense of humor, and you all see nothing wrong with throwing crushed beer cans at the TV while you're all hooting and hollering at this really stupid movie.
Just be prepared to watch the following, among just a few examples:
Charlie, our hero, is fleeing down the fire escape from a murder scene in an apartment building, jumps into Linda's Jeep (or whatever) and they're speeding away. Suddenly, the assassin, who was several floors up in the building just a second ago, is now on the canvass top of the Jeep, stabbing through the top with a knife, and trying to murder Charlie for some reason. Meanwhile, Linda, who's driving, is careening down the Washington, D.C. street, swerving around heavy traffic.
And nobody cares; nobody honks their horn, and the assassin doesn't seem to have a care in the world that he's on public display on the top of a Jeep careening down a major roadway in Washington, D.C. with a knife trying to murder Charlie.
Within the White House, Donald Sotherland is told that Charlie is inside the building. Donald, in a strong and commanding voice,demands that they "Turn on the silent alarm!"
So, they turn on the "silent alarm" and hundreds of little tiny red lights begin to flash in all the White House hallways, ceilings and walls in every room. Charlie sees the red, flashing lights and cries to Linda, "They've turned on the silent alarm!!!!"
Kinda defeats the purpose of a silent alarm, don't ya think?
Or, how about next when Charlie and Linda are being chased and shot at by all the security and plain clothes guys in the White House for some reason. They escape by entering the White House's sub-basement labyrinth of heating, air-conditioning and ventilation tunnels, with directional signs pointing out the turns back to the White House, or on to the Treasury Department, or on to The Executive Office Building.
Well, Charlie and Linda finalize their escape by simply pushing open a grate and climbing out and onto a D.C. avenue.
The message for everybody is that if you don't want to stand in line for a White House tour, just open any grate in the street and follow the directional signs to the White House (or, to the Treasury Building, if you're so inclined).
Throughout the movie, Charlie and later Linda, are being chased and shot at in very public places. Yet the D.C. police, and the government, still think they're the bad guys. Get real.
And finally, the assassin has been spending the entire movie creating some unknown but diabolical device for some reason. We finally discover he's gonna assassinate the president. How? The prez is to speak at a toy convention. The device is a remote-controlled toy helicopter, around 18-inches in length. It has two lethal machine guns that are killing just about everybody in the convention center but the prez.
Though lethal, the powerful bullets have no kick-back at all, and the toy helicopter maintains its steady, deadly but inaccurate course.
The day is saved when Charlie releases a net of toy red, white and blue balloons intended for the gala big finish, and the deadly helicopter crashes.
There are some great actors in this flick. But I just have to wonder if they needed the money to pay off a bookie, or a boat payment, or the kids needed braces.
Just be prepared to watch the following, among just a few examples:
Charlie, our hero, is fleeing down the fire escape from a murder scene in an apartment building, jumps into Linda's Jeep (or whatever) and they're speeding away. Suddenly, the assassin, who was several floors up in the building just a second ago, is now on the canvass top of the Jeep, stabbing through the top with a knife, and trying to murder Charlie for some reason. Meanwhile, Linda, who's driving, is careening down the Washington, D.C. street, swerving around heavy traffic.
And nobody cares; nobody honks their horn, and the assassin doesn't seem to have a care in the world that he's on public display on the top of a Jeep careening down a major roadway in Washington, D.C. with a knife trying to murder Charlie.
Within the White House, Donald Sotherland is told that Charlie is inside the building. Donald, in a strong and commanding voice,demands that they "Turn on the silent alarm!"
So, they turn on the "silent alarm" and hundreds of little tiny red lights begin to flash in all the White House hallways, ceilings and walls in every room. Charlie sees the red, flashing lights and cries to Linda, "They've turned on the silent alarm!!!!"
Kinda defeats the purpose of a silent alarm, don't ya think?
Or, how about next when Charlie and Linda are being chased and shot at by all the security and plain clothes guys in the White House for some reason. They escape by entering the White House's sub-basement labyrinth of heating, air-conditioning and ventilation tunnels, with directional signs pointing out the turns back to the White House, or on to the Treasury Department, or on to The Executive Office Building.
Well, Charlie and Linda finalize their escape by simply pushing open a grate and climbing out and onto a D.C. avenue.
The message for everybody is that if you don't want to stand in line for a White House tour, just open any grate in the street and follow the directional signs to the White House (or, to the Treasury Building, if you're so inclined).
Throughout the movie, Charlie and later Linda, are being chased and shot at in very public places. Yet the D.C. police, and the government, still think they're the bad guys. Get real.
And finally, the assassin has been spending the entire movie creating some unknown but diabolical device for some reason. We finally discover he's gonna assassinate the president. How? The prez is to speak at a toy convention. The device is a remote-controlled toy helicopter, around 18-inches in length. It has two lethal machine guns that are killing just about everybody in the convention center but the prez.
Though lethal, the powerful bullets have no kick-back at all, and the toy helicopter maintains its steady, deadly but inaccurate course.
The day is saved when Charlie releases a net of toy red, white and blue balloons intended for the gala big finish, and the deadly helicopter crashes.
There are some great actors in this flick. But I just have to wonder if they needed the money to pay off a bookie, or a boat payment, or the kids needed braces.
Great movie with a great cast!
Movie Nuttball19 August 2003
I don't know what is so bad about this movie.The cast performing well and being Charlie Sheen,Donald Sutherland,Linda Hamilton,Stephen Lang,Nicholas Turturro,Ben Gazzara,and the film having tons of action and a great score by Bruce Broughton and being directed by George P. Cosmatos how in the wide,wide world can you go wrong?Lang was really the ultimate villain!I really loved his role and performed neatly and perfectly!If there is a movie with at least one of these great actors its a must see or at least it is with Me!If you are looking for a good action packed conspiracy movie with the above mention cast then check this one out as I recommend it very much!
Shadow Play
sol12182 September 2012
Warning: Spoilers
***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!
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!
One of the dumbest and most laughable mainstream thrillers ever produced
IonicBreezeMachine26 October 2023
Special Assistant to the President Bobby Bishop (Charlie Sheen) is a dedicated member of The President's staff (Sam Waterston) during a time where the public and several members of the inner circle such as Chief of Staff Jacob Conrad (Donald Sutherland) are wary of the proposed defense cuts which Bobby attempts to spin to the public. As Bobby is approached by Professor Yuri Pochenko (Theodore Bikel) who has claims of a shadow government operating within the highest echelons of political power, an assassin (Stephen Lang) kills Pochenko and soon sets his sights on Bobby sending him on the run with help from journalist Amanda Givens (Linda Hamilton) to unravel what's going on and who's behind it.
Shadow Conspiracy is a 1997 political thriller that marked the final film of George P. Cosmatos and one of the last films to be distributed by Disney based company Cinergi Pictures prior to going defunct in 1998. The movie was dumped into the minimum number of theaters to qualify for a "wide release" opening in 16th place behind several holdovers and the opening of the special edition of Star Wars. Critical reception was overwhelmingly negative with many panning the thin characterizations, plot holes, and logical gaffes. With its lead in Charlie Sheen and a silly plot that's held together with duct tape and hope, one could be forgiven for thinking this was a lost script for Hot Shots 3 that someone accidently played straight.
There's very little substance to our characters who never evolve beyond archetypes (some don't even have names like The President or The Agent) and all the actors are more like cogs in a barely functioning machine than proper characters. While political action thrillers have a storied history in film such as The 39 Steps or Three Days of the Condor, Shadow Conspiracy doesn't have the style, character, or thrills of those films especially since it plays at a surprisingly slack pace. While the key appeal of this type of film is in watching the hero put the pieces together, Bobby doesn't so much "put them together" as much as he does stumble around and convenient kick them in the right spot making him one of the most comedically inept protagonists I can recall of recent memory. But it's not like Bobby's the only inept and stupid character on display as we have Stephen Lang's The Agent who has the subtlety of Schwarzenegger's The Terminator and somehow is not seen or described by anyone including the police despite firing guns in broad daylight or hanging off the tops of jeeps. This culminates in an absolute howler of a climax that makes you question: "someone paid $600,000 for this screenplay and made it!?"
Shadow Conspiracy is one of the dumbest movies ever made and is baffling how a mainstream studio film with decent sized names can hold together worse than some direct-to-video action films.
Shadow Conspiracy is a 1997 political thriller that marked the final film of George P. Cosmatos and one of the last films to be distributed by Disney based company Cinergi Pictures prior to going defunct in 1998. The movie was dumped into the minimum number of theaters to qualify for a "wide release" opening in 16th place behind several holdovers and the opening of the special edition of Star Wars. Critical reception was overwhelmingly negative with many panning the thin characterizations, plot holes, and logical gaffes. With its lead in Charlie Sheen and a silly plot that's held together with duct tape and hope, one could be forgiven for thinking this was a lost script for Hot Shots 3 that someone accidently played straight.
There's very little substance to our characters who never evolve beyond archetypes (some don't even have names like The President or The Agent) and all the actors are more like cogs in a barely functioning machine than proper characters. While political action thrillers have a storied history in film such as The 39 Steps or Three Days of the Condor, Shadow Conspiracy doesn't have the style, character, or thrills of those films especially since it plays at a surprisingly slack pace. While the key appeal of this type of film is in watching the hero put the pieces together, Bobby doesn't so much "put them together" as much as he does stumble around and convenient kick them in the right spot making him one of the most comedically inept protagonists I can recall of recent memory. But it's not like Bobby's the only inept and stupid character on display as we have Stephen Lang's The Agent who has the subtlety of Schwarzenegger's The Terminator and somehow is not seen or described by anyone including the police despite firing guns in broad daylight or hanging off the tops of jeeps. This culminates in an absolute howler of a climax that makes you question: "someone paid $600,000 for this screenplay and made it!?"
Shadow Conspiracy is one of the dumbest movies ever made and is baffling how a mainstream studio film with decent sized names can hold together worse than some direct-to-video action films.
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