“Paranoia” is a riveting 2013 thriller that delves into the world of big business and bigger corruption. Harrison Ford and Gary Oldman star as two incredibly powerful moguls in the technology industry who have a long-standing rivalry. The two industrialists will stop at nothing to settle the score between them, no matter who happens to become collateral damage. Liam Hemsworth portrays Adam Cassidy, a young technical genius who winds up caught in their crossfire. The technology industry is ruthless, and Adam soon learns that none of his classes could have prepared him for navigating this harsh new world.
Gary Oldman’s Nicolas Wyatt and Harrison Ford’s Jock Goddard mark the first time since “Air Force One” that Oldman and Ford have starred together in a film. Their reunion does not disappoint; each scene the actors share is laden with tension. The older men serve as chilling antagonists in this fast-paced drama, and it’s fascinating to watch as they nonchalantly leave chaos in the wake of their rivalry. At first, Adam is enamored by their ferocity and business acumen, and he attempts to become like them. As the film progresses, Adam slowly becomes aware of just how corrupt and brutal his mentors really are.
“Paranoia” centers on corporate espionage, but the film is really a tale of failed human morality in the business world. Wyatt and Goddard are more like cold, calculating machines rather than humans, and they pursue their own goals without much regard to what it costs others. Adam is forced to decide whether the glamor and wealth he desires are worth the abandonment of his principles and crossing the line of his conscience. When he finally decides he wants to back out, it’s far too late because he already knows too much about both men and their companies for them to let him go without a deadly fight. Only one person can come out alive in this clash of the corporate titans, and the odds aren’t looking good for Alex. Help from an unlikely source just might be his only chance, not only to save his career but his life as well.
“Paranoia” excels in crafting a rich world full of dynamic characters. Wyatt and Goddard are far from staunch corporate archetypes. Both men have remarkably nuanced personalities, making their betrayals and cutthroat decisions all the more chilling. Adam Cassidy is the perfect foil for these ruthless barons, although at first he seems poised to become one of them. Young and brilliant, Adam soon realizes that he isn’t quite as wise about the ways of the world as he believes he is. As the plot develops, Adam matures and gains enough humility to make him a relatable character you can root for throughout the film’s tense final moments.
Director Robert Luketic does a remarkable job of pulling the film’s various storylines together into one cohesive and fascinating narrative. It’s rare for a film about such an intellectual subject matter to have all the ingredients for a great summer blockbuster, but “Paranoia” more than delivers on both counts. The cinematography succeeds in creating a suspenseful yet lavish atmosphere, and the film moves quickly from scene to scene. In spite of its relatively fast pace, “Paranoia” manages to pack in plenty of character development. In fact, Adam Cassidy’s progression form a naive corporate upstart to a full-fledged businessman is a central theme of the film.
The supporting cast rounds out this excellent film, adding plenty of depth and a dash of humor at just the right moments. Amber Heard stars as Emma Jennings, Adam’s potential love interest. Richard Dreyfuss and Josh Holloway have notable roles as solid, nuanced characters who appear throughout the film. The entire cast is believable and delivers its witty lines with pitch-perfect accuracy, which is part of the reason this drama is so believable and intense. Even if you aren’t normally a fan of business-themed films, “Paranoia” has enough suspense and human drama to hold your attention.
