![]() The Capricorn One conspiracy elements do not attempt to pass rudimentary scrutiny, the script requiring a roomful of the smartest scientists on the planet to not notice they are communicating with recorded messages. The details subversively reveal the lunacy of conspiracy theories, but may still be too subtle for ardent believers in the cause of nonsense. Writer and director Peter Hyams conjures a plot straight from a conspiracy theorists' convention floor, and with B-movie charm but a decent cast and budget, delivers a ridiculously engrossing two hours. ![]() Caulfield receives a tip something is wrong, and starts to investigate.Ĭombining post-Watergate cynicism about government corruption with wild-ass conspiracy theories about faked moon landings, Capricorn One ambitiously aims for the sweet spot where unfettered collusion thrives. Meanwhile journalists Robert Caulfield (Elliot Gould) and Judy Drinkwater (Karen Black) are covering the mission. Brubaker, Willis and Walker reluctantly go along with the ruse, but Brubaker is uneasy about lying to his wife Kay (Brenda Vaccaro) and their young kids. He explains the original mission had to be scrubbed and converted to a crew-less flight due to faulty life-sustaining equipment, but admitting failure would have meant loss of funding. James Kelloway (Hal Holbrook) pressures the three astronauts into participating in fake studio broadcasts, pretending to be on Mars. The launch proceeds without the crew, using voice recordings from earlier simulations. Simpson) are removed from the spacecraft and hustled to a secret base in the desert, where a warehouse has been converted to a television studio with a Mars-like set. But minutes before blast-off, astronauts Brubaker (James Brolin), Willis (Sam Waterston) and Walker (O.J. NASA is about to launch the first crewed mission to Mars. Also starring Brenda Vaccaro, Hal Holbrook, Karen Black, Telly Savalas and David Huddleston.A conspiracy thriller about a faked Mars landing, Capricorn One is exceptionally silly and wildly entertaining. But even he does a pretty good job in his role, although you'll most likely be tempted to focus more on James Brolin and Sam Waterston as the other two astronauts.Īnyway, it's a very well done movie, and shows Peter Hyams to be a capable director. If the movie has any real problem, it's only because of something that happened long after its release: O.J. Portraying a hoax mission to Mars and a larger conspiracy, the movie joins the group of movies during that era that involved distrust of the government (the others were "The Parallax View", "Three Days of the Condor" and "All the President's Men").Įlliott Gould brilliantly plays against type as the aggressive reporter doing everything possible to expose the lie but encountering many obstacles - many of which are probably no accident. Occasional claims that the moon landing may have been staged make "Capricorn One" all the more interesting. Reviewed by lee_eisenberg 7 / 10 makes you think It is a thrilling stunt and amazingly shot. The movie feels a little scattered until the plane helicopters chase. I don't think most of the scenes at the control room are that compelling. I prefer staying more with the astronauts and the reporter. It's an interesting premise for the paranoid conspiracy era. A technician discovers the conspiracy but then he disappears which alarms his investigative journalist friend Robert Caulfield (Elliott Gould). Few people would be involved in the cover up. Instead of scrubbing the mission, Kelloway pressures them to fake the Martian landing. James Kelloway (Hal Holbrook) tells them that the life support system was found fatally flawed. Simpson) are surprised to be secreted away. The astronauts Charles Brubaker (James Brolin), Peter Willis (Sam Waterston) and John Walker (O. The space program is under financial stress and the President can't even bother to show up for the launch. ![]() NASA launches Capricorn One into space on its way to Mars. Reviewed by SnoopyStyle 7 / 10 interesting conspiracy premise The plan is to fake the Mars landing and keep the astronauts at a remote base until the mission is over, but then investigative journalist Robert Caulfield starts to suspect something.-Col Needham The head of the programme explains that the life support system was faulty and that NASA can't afford the publicity of a scratched mission. Seconds before the launch, the entire team is pulled from the capsule and the rocket leaves earth unmanned much to Brubaker's anger. Charles Brubaker is the astronaut leading NASA's first manned mission to Mars.
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