Echelon Conspiracy (Greg Marcks, 2009)

Region 1 Paramount (USA)
NTSC, 2.35:1 16x9 enhanced
105 minutes
Audio: DD 5.1 English
Subtitles: Optional English SDH, French, Spanish
Extras: previews for other products

Released: 21 July 2009

Internet research indicates that Echelon Conspiracy was once called The Gift and was reviewed as far back as May 2008. However, it was not released in American theatres until February 2009, long after the nearly-identical Eagle Eye had its day in theatres and on home video. Exactly like Eagle Eye, Echelon Conspiracy tells the story of a powerful government computer that communicates with seemingly random individuals via mobile phones. These individuals are ordered to perform various tasks that lead up to unlocking the megacomputer’s potential. Along the way, you get chases, firefights, and general mayhem.

It is probable that Echelon Conspiracy was developed before or at the same time as Eagle Eye, so I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt with regards to comparing the two. However, the movie is still very derivative of other movies, including The Bourne Supremacy. There is a car chase in Echelon Conspiracy that is very similar to the one in Supremacy, right down to a car being smashed perpendicular to a traffic divider. Oh, yeah, the car chase takes place in Moscow, just like the one in Supremacy.

The cast roster includes some big names like Ving Rhames, Edward Burns, and Martin Sheen, though Sheen’s role is so small and isolated (his character never leaves his office) that his scenes were probably shot in the span of a week. Given the caliber of the supporting players, it’s curious why the filmmakers picked Shane West for the lead. West doesn’t have much range beyond smirking, so he’s neither interesting nor sympathetic as a protagonist. The movie is basically stolen by Sergey Gubanov, who plays a jovial, happy-go-lucky Russian taxi driver. Gubanov’s happy-to-swindle you demeanor is a welcome presence in an otherwise dour production.

Video:
The 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen image has a lot of white specks. I don’t know if these specks indicated damage to the source print or compression problems. Still, the image looks very good and usually hides the limited scale of the sets. The picture is a huge downgrade from the Blu-ray’s 1080p resolution, particularly during scenes with rapid motion or rapid camera movement.

Audio:
Expect the usual action-movie pyrotechnics with the DD 5.1 English track. The audio has a wide spread across the front, and the rears provide robust support at times. The subwoofer rumbles frequently without being overbearing.

Extras:
There are a couple of previews for other products.