FeistyUpper If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

Chirphymium It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

Erica Derrick By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

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

wes-connors 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

sol1218 ***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!

Elswet Now, this work doesn't reek, it's enjoyable, and energetic, in spite of its inability to be great. But it tries too hard to reach for that greatness, while still holding on to the life raft. Charlie Sheen never had it in him to be great. He was good, in many performances, in many different roles, but he is not capable of greatness on screen.The same can be said for Donald Sutherland. His son Keifer is far more talented, far more believable in roles as something great. Even when that something embodies a terrible darkness.This work, like its actors, tries to be great in its story, action, and political posturing, but like most who posture, it can lead nowhere, as posturing is not being, it's pretending to be. And that's all this movie could ever hope to achieve.The action is good, the story is good, the performances are good, and the characters are well written, but well written and good is all this has to give.It rates a 5.2/10 from...the Fiend :.

buzz-81 A large part of this film strongly resembled Three Days of the Condor: the group of researchers killed but one escapes, the concept of a government employee on the run urged to "come in" in face of an internal spook conspiracy, the female "accomplice" Linda Hamilton/Faye Dunaway, etc.. Even some of the dialogue was remarkably similar -the group of government high-ups suggesting that Sheen/Redford might have "been turned". Obviously there were differences (Turner/Redford was part of the "reading group" while Bishop/Sheen was a presidential aide; Hamilton/Givens was a reporter while Dunaway/Hale was an innocent bystander) but overall I would guess the script was prompted by Three Days of the Condor (a far superior film).