Strong and Moving!

Sadly Over-hyped

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

Watching it is like watching the spectacle of a class clown at their best: you laugh at their jokes, instigate their defiance, and "ooooh" when they get in trouble.

In Washington DC, several people are shot dead by muscular Stephen Lang (in a very long coat). After this mysterious opening, we meet presidential special assistant Charlie Sheen (as Robert "Bobby" Bishop). For the most part, this movie shows us numerous stunted situations for Sheen, who has more lives than a cat. He witnesses a murder and escapes one himself. Then, he escapes another, and another and another... in fact, Mr. Sheen may suffer more Perils than Pauline. "Shadow Conspiracy" involves a plot to assassinate the President of the United States, which Sheen tries to stop. They do get to that, eventually. The story plays like they either didn't adhere to the script or revised it as they went along – this results in something which varies from confusing to predictable...For his last film, director George P. Cosmatos gets some nicely photographed moments, with help from the skilled Feitshans family. Serious and jut-jawed, Sheen disappoints by "acting" throughout – he's better when allowing himself into his characters, with humor. Sheen doesn't appeal as a steely-eyed action hero. An illustrious supporting cast features reliable Donald Sutherland (as Jacob Conrad), who is fine but obvious in these surroundings, and investigative reporter Linda Hamilton (as Amanda Givens) appearing confused and superfluous...At one point we're not to worry because there is a "Shadow Government inside the White House." Since this is a Presidential assassination thriller, it wouldn't be far-fetched to assume Republican politician and former Vice President Dick Cheney saw this film. In politics beginning with the Richard M. Nixon Administration, Mr. Cheney revealed a secret "Shadow Government" existed in the US, shortly after the 9/11 "World Trade Center" terrorist attacks. The story seemed to die after a few days and Cheney is no longer asked about his mysterious revelation. Cheney was certain Iraq had "weapons of mass destruction" poised to attack the USA, said the war would be over in weeks and other nonsense – so, he may have swiped his "Shadow Government" idea from this relatively obscure movie.**** Shadow Conspiracy (1/25/97) George P. Cosmatos ~ Charlie Sheen, Donald Sutherland, Linda Hamilton, Stephen Lang

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.

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.

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.