# Shadow Conspiracy

Shadow Conspiracy is a 1997 American political thriller film starring Charlie Sheen, Donald Sutherland, Linda Hamilton, and Sam Waterston. It was the final film directed by George P. Cosmatos.
The film was poorly received by critics. It was released on DVD in the United States in November 2003 by Buena Vista Home Entertainment.

## Plot

Bobby Bishop, a brilliant and dedicated special advisor to the President of the United States, finds himself in the heart of Washington, D.C., a city teeming with power, ambition, and hidden agendas. He's a man who knows the corridors of power intimately, navigating the intricate web of alliances and betrayals. But when he stumbles upon a coded message, a whisper of a conspiracy to kill the President, he knows his life is about to be irrevocably changed. The message points towards Jacob Conrad, the seemingly loyal White House Chief of Staff, as the mastermind behind the plot.
Seeking further information, Bobby connects with Yuri Pochenko, a Russian-American professor who possesses crucial knowledge about the conspiracy. Pochenko, however, is a man marked for death. A shadowy force, operating under the guise of the American government, has been methodically eliminating anyone who knows the truth. As Bobby and Pochenko meet, the professor is gunned down in broad daylight, leaving Bobby shaken and the target of a relentless pursuit. He barely escapes with his life.
After Pochenko's murder, Bobby finds himself isolated, a lone wolf facing a formidable enemy. However, he is not entirely alone. Amanda Givens, a courageous and tenacious journalist, believes his story and offers her support. Together, they become an unlikely alliance, piecing together the fragments of the conspiracy, a puzzle that leads them deeper into a web of deception and betrayal.
As Bobby and Amanda delve deeper, they uncover the truth: Jacob Conrad, the seemingly indispensable Chief of Staff, is the orchestrator of the assassination plot. Conrad, seemingly a man of impeccable integrity, is driven by an insatiable thirst for power. His motives lie in a hidden desire to control the Presidency, a desire fueled by a twisted sense of entitlement.
Bobby discovers the President is a target because his recent re-election has ignited a storm of political change, a change Conrad fears will diminish his own power. Conrad has cultivated a network of powerful individuals, all willing to play a deadly game for a chance at greater control. The President's life hangs in the balance.
At a lavish party hosted by the White House. Conrad, convinced he has everything under control, plans to use a remote-controlled model helicopter rigged with explosives to assassinate the President. Just as the helicopter takes aim, Bobby, with the help of Amanda, exposes Conrad's true nature. A desperate struggle ensues, culminating in Bobby successfully disarming the helicopter and shooting the assassin. Confronted with his own defeat, Conrad, consumed by his ambition, takes his own life.
Bobby, having risked everything to save the President and the nation, emerges as a hero. But the experience leaves him forever changed, disillusioned by the corruption that lurks within the halls of power. He knows that the fight for truth and justice is a constant battle, and he is prepared to continue the fight, even in the shadows.

## Cast

* Charlie Sheen as Bobby Bishop
* Donald Sutherland as Jacob Conrad
* Linda Hamilton as Amanda Givens
* Stephen Lang as The Agent
* Ben Gazzara as Vice President Saxon
* Sam Waterston as President of the United States
* Nicholas Turturro as Grasso
* Charles Cioffi as General Blackburn
* Stanley Anderson as Attorney General Toyanbee
* Theodore Bikel as Professor Yuri Pochenko
* Paul Gleason as Blythe
* Terry O'Quinn as Frank Ridell
* Gore Vidal as Congressman Page
* Dey Young as Janet

## Production

Production began in June 1995. Shadow Conspiracy was filmed in 12 weeks, with most of the principal photography taking place in Richmond, Virginia, Georgetown, Washington and Baltimore, Maryland.

## Reception

Shadow Conspiracy was panned by critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a rating of 7% based on reviews from 30 critics, and an average rating of 3.4/10. The site's critics' consensus reads: "Rather than exciting audiences with a thrilling race against time, Shadow Conspiracy suggests there may be a secret cabal duping talented actors into selecting woefully deficient scripts." The film did not fare well at the box office, grossing a little over $2 million domestically.