The Parallax View (1974) **1/2

Warren Beatty plays news reporter, Joe Frady, who stumbles into a massive cover-up and the Parallax Corporation after a senator is assasinated. I imagine that in the 1970's, when public trust of our government was at an all-time low, this was a timely movie. Unfortunately, it's somewhat corny and dated. It does show, however, how easily a conspriary and cover-up can be managed. The current conspiracy (9-11) is not that hard to imagine; simply difficult to grasp.

There is a scene in the movie in which Joe Frady embarks on a plane and pays for his ticket on board, once the plane is airborne; like on a train. It underscores how terrorist events (which are conspiracies of a sort) have allowed our government to train the citizens of this "free country" to give up rights and to have thier documents on hand to prove who they are. This is all too reminiscent of fascism. We citizens, like sheep, have been going about our business, muttering and shrugging, as the government has been busy passing laws that allow the police to examine our lives at will. i.e. without due process and without a judge's order. How long will it be before the censorship starts?