Echelon Conspiracy (2009)

I have no idea whether I can be arsed to go see this, but I’m blogging it because Peter Gutmann got me a copy of Secret Power which prettymuch broke the story on the real Echelon, and ever since I’ve been dropping in on Menwith when in the area, to count the radomes.

This… this this this this, is pure Hollywood. Enemy of the State, part 2? And slightly HAL, by the look of it, perhaps with a twist of Neuromancer and a dash of Daemon? And, yes, War Games.

I think I’d prefer to see this instead.

Echelon Conspiracy (2009)
(Based on an advance preview): This spy-related drama (with a not very good title) is surprisingly ENJOYABLE. SHAWN WEST (of “ER”) plays a computer engineer who starts getting mysterious messages on a cell phone (ala “EAGLE EYE”). He starts following the instructions texted to him (tho it’s never explained just WHY he would do that), & goes flitting between Thailand and Prague in the Czech Republic. He’s hounded by an FBI agent (VING RHAMES), an ex-agent (ED BURNS) and a powerful U.S. govt minister (MARTIN SHEEN). Throw in some Russians, a shadowy romantic interest (TAMARA FELDMAN), some fine car chases, intrusive cameras everywhere, and you’ve got an interesting and fun ride. Is “Big Brother” watching him? And, if so, who (if anyone) is really CONTROLLING Big Brother?! There are elements of ‘WAR GAMES’ and various other action films. Outside of an overly-loud soundtrack, this is a pleasing action excursion that’s gotten little publicity.

Comments

2 responses to “Echelon Conspiracy (2009)”

  1. Carolyn

    The Echelon’s plot of monitoring U.S. telegrams made me think of this joke. Two sisters are ranchers in the U.S. west, in need of a bull to propagate their livestock. With limited funds, one sister travels to shop for the desired bull, and when the deal is made, she sends the following telegram to her sister:
    “Comfortable”.
    The person relaying the message asks her if she is certain her message will achieve the desired result.
    Her response, “Of course. She’s blond. She’ll read it slowly.”
    You gotta know good English to get this one. It took me a minute. I guess I must be blond. 😉

  2. Heh. They could have filmed the Zircon Conspiracy instead ;-).

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