Quartile rating: 6.5/10 · 1 rating
A man obsessed with conspiracy theories becomes a target after one of his theories turns out to be true. Unfortunately, in order to save himself, he has to figure out which theory it is.
Conspiracy Theory is a reasonably entertaining mid-tier thriller elevated by the pairing of Mel Gibson and Julia Roberts. Gibson's manic, paranoid cabbie Jerry Fletcher is a genuinely engaging character, and the premise has enough intrigue to sustain interest. However, the plot grows convoluted and strains credibility as it progresses, and the film never fully commits to either its darker conspiracy roots or its romantic comedy undertones, leaving it somewhat tonally muddled. The cinematography is workmanlike at best—functional but unremarkable for a big studio thriller of the era. The ending feels rushed and overly tidy, undercutting the paranoid tension the film had been building. The film's novelty lies mostly in Gibson's committed, offbeat performance rather than any truly original conception. Solid but forgettable mainstream entertainment.