Paranoia may look like an utter disappointment, but it really isn’t. Anyone going into the film gets exactly as they expect, which is a somewhat suspense-filled movie with an easy-to-follow plot and a decent enough story. So, with all the bad press surrounding it, it’s not a half bad watch, even if the plot is a recycled one.
Adam Cassidy (Liam Hemsworth) is a young professional who desperately wants to live like the other half does. He works for Nicholas Wyatt (Gary Oldman), an arrogant CEO who’s obsessed with taking down his former mentor, Jock Goddard’s (Harrison Ford), company because their past history. Cassidy’s father Frank (Richard Dreyfus) is sick and they can no longer pay for hospital expenses.
When Adam pitches an idea to Wyatt that ends up getting him fired, the tables are turned and he is threatened and coerced into joining Goddard’s company so he can steal insider information. Typically, this plan becomes too much for Adam and he tries to get out of it only to be swept back into the rivalry by force. The film feels a lot like 21, which isn’t surprising since they share the same director. Robert Luketic loves the suspense and thrill of the characters trying to one-up and outsmart each other. Not surprisingly, this is what keeps the movie going. When Cassidy meets with Wyatt and Goddard, you can feel the tension in the room and the glares they all shoot at one another are pretty fun to watch.
The film paces itself without rushing to get to the end or slowing down enough for boredom to set it. It’s easily a good popcorn flick that doesn’t require much out of the viewer and packs enough within its hour and forty minutes to keep things interesting.
However entertaining the film is, it isn’t without flaws. There’s a love scene near the middle that just falls flat and is more obligatory than anything. I wish there had been more interaction between Harrison Ford and Gary Oldman, because there isn’t enough of it. In fact, having the main characters interact more might have brought about a more intriguing turn of events and raised the drama.
And while the plot moves unfailingly towards the finale, the realization about the lack of character depth becomes really clear. Not that there isn’t any character-driven plot at all, but we need more than a few exchanged words about Wyatt and Goddard’s past and their tumultuous business relationship. The movie still doesn't falter too badly because of this, a combination of Limitlessand 21 tied up into a nice bow.
Liam Hemsworth has his work cut out for him, acting alongside three award-winning actors, and yet he doesn’t falter under the pressure of it all. The Hemsworth brothers may all be in the acting business, but up until now we haven’t seen Liam in anything that shows any potential as an outstanding actor besides being eye-candy.
This film may prove that he can hold his own, but it’s not necessarily a breakthrough for him. It is, however, Hemsworth's best performance so far. His American accent is pretty spot on and he and Amber Heard, who plays Adam’s girlfriend and coworker, have chemistry.
Gary Oldman and Harrison Ford, two outstanding actors, feel just a little held back in their roles here. It isn’t that they don’t do a good job, but they’re held to such high standards that there should have been more for them to do than serve as a wall between each other and Hemsworth. Still, it’s nice to see them together again onscreen.
Paranoia is far from original (and a line similar to this sentiment is mentioned in the film), but it still boasts a great cast, some suspense, and entertainment. It’s not so absurd that you’ll be scratching your head after in bewilderment and not amazing enough to gush about, but the film serves its purpose and it does it decently enough. It holds its own and delivers what’s expected of it. Maybe after watching, it’ll even make you paranoid of the person next to you who may or may not have taken some of your popcorn.
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