Paranoia Film Critique

Film Critique/ Analysis #8

Michael Atkinson

Cinema 28

A Film That Might Make You Paranoid

In this thriller directed by Robert Luketic, Paranoia (2013), is a film centered around a young employee who becomes a spy between two dueling companies with a shady past. Liam Hemsworth plays Adam who is the main character in this overdone plot. If you ask me, this film is nothing but a clichéd plot line from start to finish. Adam begins where he is about to make a big presentation in front of the head of this huge technology company. Well, he ends up throwing a hissy fit and getting fired, stealing his boss’ credit card in the process and spending it on an expensive night out for him and his friends. But just like in any other film, it’s not like he gets arrested or asked to pay back everything when he’s caught, no, they decide to higher him as a rat and use him to go undercover against their rival company. 

There are so many flaws within this movie, that it outshines everything the film actually did right. Starting with the characterization flaws, Adam is not even the least likable character in this film. He is a self-centered and self-righteous hothead who doesn’t even change by the time the film ends. I’m sure the only reason that the audience liked him is because he is gorgeous - at least, that’s the only reason I did. I mean, seriously, it’s Liam freaking Hemsworth...with his sculpted abs and shirtless scenes and...oh, I digress. Right, the flaws. Aside from Adam’s impersonal skills and unpleasant personality, the other two dueling company heads are complete unlikable and narcissistic characters as well. It was hard to form a bond with any of these characters and actually care about anything that happened to them. 

Moving onto the plot, it seemed like 99% of it made no sense. It was hard to follow exactly what happened as they interchanged information in the form of technical jargon that was all essentially made up by the writers. One was forced to try and follow along as they whipped out their showy cell phones and talked about plans to steal prototypes from the rival companies. Just as any other cliché plot, Adam finds out that the attractive Emma is working as a director in the rival company, so he forms a relationship with her just to get information from her and essentially steal her fingerprints so he can get this prototype. Because it all comes down to the fact that if he chooses to not help and get this prototype, they will kill his father. But everyone can rest happy because even after they run over Adam’s best friend with a car, the bad guys divulge their secrets to each other, and Adam secret plots against them all with the FBI, he wins by bringing down the two corrupt companies and even gets to keep the girl. Isn’t it wonderful? 

But with all the faults this film aside, one cannot forsake the cinematography of it and even the use of sound. The shots were impeccable and creative, using every inch of the screen with unique eye movement and style. Even the way the sound was layered and the effects used only heightened this film. However, it’s sad that those good aspects of the film get lost when the rest of it is subpar. 

Overall, it is no wonder that there was never a hype around this film. I for one just assume Paranoia to be an extreme take on the Apple verse Android debate.