Echelon Conspiracy (2009)

0% of critics liked it
(12 reviews)
36% of users liked it
(1,311,583 ratings)

A young American engineer comes into possession of a cell phone that bestows unlimited wealth upon him, never realizing the danger posed to him by the device until security agents close in and start shooting to kill. Now, as a frantic chase across the continents gets under way, the stability of the… More A young American engineer comes into possession of a cell phone that bestows unlimited wealth upon him, never realizing the danger posed to him by the device until security agents close in and start shooting to kill. Now, as a frantic chase across the continents gets under way, the stability of the entire world hangs in the balance. Shane West stars in a globe-trotting action thriller featuring Ving Rhames, Jonathan Pryce, and Martin Sheen. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 45 min.
Directed By: Greg Marcks
Written By: Michael Nitsberg, Kevin Elders
Genres: Mystery & Suspense, Action & Adventure

In Theaters: Feb 27, 2009 Wide
On DVD: Jul 21, 2009
Studio: AfterDark Films

Critic Reviews

Joel Brown, Boston Globe
Combines a righteous message about out-of-control government surveillance with the old computer-gone-haywire plot to make - well, not very much, actually.
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
Echelon Conspiracy is a more evocative title than a movie this stupid deserves.
Frank Wilkins, Frank's Reel Reviews
There's a great movie to be born from the alarming premise that the world's most powerful countries may be listening to or watching our electronic conversations or public movements at this very moment... But unfortunately we'll have to wait for the film
Jamie Gillies, Apollo Guide
Paramount's release of this movie on standard DVD and blu-ray is pretty bare bones.
Jamie Gillies, Apollo Guide
In the right hands, this premise might a good movie make -- a fable like Aladdin's lamp updated for the iPhone era. This convoluted and half-baked conspiracy thriller does not.
Ed Gonzalez, Slant Magazine
The only surprise to this by-the-numbers action thriller is that it didn't go straight to video--and that it doesn't star Jon Voight.
Jules Brenner, Cinema Signals
When the only elements that could be called professional are the photography and the poster art, you can consider this a movie only the producer's mother could love.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
The second half of the film turns from implausible to just plain silly. (Blu-ray Edition)
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
The movie isn't so much outright bad as it is simply flat and routine.
Adam Keleman, Slant Magazine
Simply a case of we've-seen-this-before-and-better (at least Sandra Bullock's The Net had camp value), Conspiracy flimsily masquerades as a ticking bomb but is ultimately sans heart-pounding jolts.
Tony Medley, Tolucan Times
Of all the pejorative words that could be used to describe this film, perhaps the most apt is amateurish.
Susan Granger, SSG Syndicate
The biggest mystery is how this high-tech whodunit-gone-awry got a theatrical release and didn't go directly to dvd.
Scott Tobias, AV Club
A by-the-numbers international thriller in the Bourne vein.
Frank Swietek, One Guy's Opinion
Presumably it was the fact that the DVD release schedule for the week was already filled that explains the escape of this picture to theatres--it really belongs on a video store shelf or a late-night slot on a non-premium cable network.
Gary Brown, Houston Community Newspapers
Echelon Conspiracy is a pale imitation of Eagle Eye, not exactly a good movie to begin with.
Brian Orndorf, BrianOrndorf.com
This latest take on Bush-era paranoia and cell phone alarm might arrive in theaters somewhat dramatically moldy and short-sheeted in the budget department, yet it's actually a more rewarding sit than Eagle Eye if viewed with minimal attention paid

Read all 16 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Thomas J

I actually like this movie more than the similar plotted Eagle Eye. The acting was much better. In general a world setting is more believable than an U.S. only setting like in Eagle Eye and more interesting. The threat was more believable also. I am gay and will say Tamara Feldman… More
I actually like this movie more than the similar plotted Eagle Eye. The acting was much better. In general a world setting is more believable than an U.S. only setting like in Eagle Eye and more interesting. The threat was more believable also. I am gay and will say Tamara Feldman was HOT in her role and kept my attention much more so that the Eagle Eye "heroin"!
jay n

What starts as an intriguing thriller quickly devolves into just another movie where suddenly everybody is some sort of covert spy and things blow up. That's okay but if you're looking for anything the least bit original look elsewhere.
Stuart B

crap, stick to eagle eye
Fascade F

I saw this...enjoyed it (but got alot of echoes of similarity to the movie :" Eagle Eye" with Shia LaBoeuf...) other than that it was an interesting portrayal into the viewing of letting a computer take over the United States. The victims? The American constituents...
Dannielle A

Hmmm... de ja vu... can you say Eagle Eye??? Very similar to IRobot as well but still interesting.
Curt C

Low budget knock off of Eagle Eye. Eagle Eye was terrible. Ergo. Gains half a star for tipping me to this awesome forum thread: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1124039/board/nest/134257935 Things I learned from watching Echelon Conspiracy (highlights): 6 - CIA office in Prague is… More
Low budget knock off of Eagle Eye. Eagle Eye was terrible. Ergo. Gains half a star for tipping me to this awesome forum thread: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1124039/board/nest/134257935 Things I learned from watching Echelon Conspiracy (highlights): 6 - CIA office in Prague is inside an old warehouse 9 - All security cameras are connected to internet 12. Before seeing a superior military-officer in Russia, shaving is required. 23. If you just won about 200 000 euro in a suspicious way, and then been warned by the casino security to not use a cell phone, the absolutely first thing you do is to try to fool them again by using a headset. 28. If you have a grenade launcher, don't use it before you had a 5min unnecessary firefight. Man, on second thought, this movie is almost worth watching just so you get everything in that forum thread. (not really)
Brett W

The plot of Echelon Conspiracy is strikingly familiar to my own life, except that the text messages offer to increase the size of my penis...and no one important is chasing me. Anyway, It's nice to see that "average guy being pursued by big brother in the 21st century"… More
The plot of Echelon Conspiracy is strikingly familiar to my own life, except that the text messages offer to increase the size of my penis...and no one important is chasing me. Anyway, It's nice to see that "average guy being pursued by big brother in the 21st century" has remained such a lucrative genre. Keep the crap train a rollin', gentlemen. Also, this film reminded me of one my favorite cinematic cliches, one which I call "Fay Intimidation"... First, the English villain asks crony if he likes ______ (insert mundane activity). Crony shrugs timidly "uh, sure boss, I guess". English villain then proceeds to tell a long, boring parable that ends with a veiled threat if the desired outcome is not met. Classic! Frankly, anytime a man at a desk asks me if I like something I immediately start fearing for my life.
Nikki M

I really enjoyed this movie, the suspense was good and besides who doesn't like West, Burns or Rhames???!
Timothy O

Ok, it is watchable. Barely. It is movie making by the numbers. Ed Burns, well, damn, is he a really MEDIOCRE actor. OMG, he is just a SAG Card.