Paranoia - Riskantes Spiel (Paranoia)
U.S.A./France 2013

Opening 19 Sep 2013

Directed by: Robert Luketic
Writing credits: Jason Dean Hall, Barry Levy, Joseph Finder
Principal actors: Liam Hemsworth, Gary Oldman, Harrison Ford, Amber Heard, Richard Dreyfuss

The high-tech world and corporate espionage collide in this fast paced thriller. Director Robert Luketic engaged two old time Hollywood heavyweights to depict modern corporate rivals consumed by greed and deception. Harrison Ford plays Jock Goddard, the genial Ben Kingsley look-alike billionaire CEO of a giant tech company. Gary Oldman as his rival Nicholas Wyatt is brilliant, devious and hell bent on stealing Goddard’s secrets for his own company. Along comes Adam Cassidy (Liam Hemsworth), the young, incredibly hunky whiz kid hungry to succeed. Adam attempts to escape his humble Brooklyn beginnings and is desperate to woo his Hamptons heiress Emma (Amber Heard). To Adam’s friends and fellow techies he is climbing the ladder of corporate success. In reality Adam is a mere pawn in Wyatt’s and Goddard’s very dangerous private war. Adam’s father Frank, played by venerable actor Richard Dreyfuss, keeps him grounded; his best friend Kevin (Lucas Till) has his back. It’s a cruel world out there. Adam must rely on his Brooklyn street smarts and a Hollywood happing ending to survive.

Meet the Dream Factory at its glibbest. It’s a shame that the ruthless titans Goddard and Wyatt, due to a one-dimensional script, never have the opportunity to act upon their sinister fantasies. Good has to triumph whereas evil would have been much more delectable. Harrison Ford and Gary Oldmann, brilliant as rivals in Air Force One, never get a chance to prove their real mettle. The audience, sadly, loses out on viewing a truly riveting film. (Pat Frickey)