PARANOIA (2013)

Directed By: Robert Luketic 
Written By: Jason Hall & Barry T. Levy 
Based On The Novel By: Joseph Finder 
Cinematography By: David Tattersall 

Cast: Liam Hemsworth, Harrison Ford, Gary Oldman, Richard Dreyfuss, Amber Heard, Embeth Daviditz, Julian McMahon, Lucas Till, Josh Holloway, Kevin Kilner, Charlie Hofheimer, Angela Sarafayn


The high stakes thriller Paranoia takes us deep behind the scenes of global success to a deadly world of greed and deception. The two most powerful tech billionaires in the world are bitter rivals with a complicated past who will stop at nothing to destroy each other. A young superstar seduced by unlimited wealth and power falls between them, and becomes trapped in the middle of the twists and turns of their life-and-death game of corporate espionage. By the time he realizes his life is in danger, he is in far too deep and knows far too much for them to let him walk away.

This is one of those films where you wonder how it got made. Not only that but how it got such big names to be in it. Which I can only guess is that the films budget was handsomely padded with big checks for the stars. As this film doesn't even seem like it would work as a straight to DVD feature.

The film is set In New York, yet as a naive New Yorker none of the locations look close to New York, Way too clean and nice. So that kept throwing me off.

This film was so horrible that while it went on I found myself more and more less interested. So that by the end I didn't really care the outcome or the ending. Any twists or double crosses that the film expects the audience to be surprised by simply don't matter as they are predictable and just stupid. The only other thriller that has made me this mad and ambivalent while watching it was THE GENERAL'S DAUGHTER and at least that film had the knowledge to be unintentionally campy. Here everyone takes it all so seriously. That when the main character finds out he has been under surveillance. You wonder how such a smart character has been so stupid. Especially when the companies he works for are technology based in cell phones and camera technology. Which I guess is that the title of the film is supposed to come into play for.

The film tends to make little sense and is boring as it wants you to care about good looking, wealthy people none of whom are particularly likeable...or interesting.

The film tries to send a message of sorts about different financial classes by having his father. Who is old school, worked all of his life as a security guard and is sale of the earth and charming a hard worker. Be more human, real and truthful. Where as all the other characters who have money, smarts and technology are all cut throat evil and selfish.

What is even more shocking is that the salt of the earth character is played by Richard Dreyfus again all I could think is how the mighty have fallen. I could have seen him more in the Harrison ford role.

Harrison ford is surprisingly decent in his role. It is rare to see him play a villain and he relishes in the role. Too bad he didn't have a film that could support his Character. Here he also seems younger in his performance and appearance then his more recent roles.

Kevin Spacey turned down the role that Gary Oldman Plays

The film really is disposable there is nothing to really connect to or hold the audiences interest. It all flies by so fast and makes not leaves any marks. That the film becomes ultimately forgettable even while you watch it.

Director Robert Luketic started off so well and luckily with the hit film LEGALLY BLONDE and it seems with each new film he digs himself deeper into obscurity and a by the number director. with films like KILLERS, WIN A DATE WITH TAD HAMILTON, 21 and MONSTER IN LAW

The film plays like the cast was constantly getting new pages of the script daily. As there is no real depth of Characters or story. Then it seems scenes and decisions are made in a whim and stitched together to make the film somewhat coherent.

Skip it

Grade: F