Movie

The Formula

1980 · 117 min

A slow-burning, talky conspiracy thriller that feels like a grim tour through corporate and historical secrets, with a cynical edge.

Tagline: Big Oil. Big Money. Big Mystery. Everyone’s out to make a killing.
Overview: While investigating the death of a friend and fellow cop, Los Angeles police officer Barney Caine stumbles across evidence that Nazis created a synthetic alternative to gasoline during World War II. This revelation has the potential to end the established global oil industry, making the formula a very valuable and dangerous piece of information. Eventually, Caine must contend with oil tycoon Adam Steiffel, who clearly has his own agenda regarding the formula.
How it feels: Tense, cynical, dark and melancholic. Measured and needs your attention.
About: Conspiracy, corruption, power, greed
Content: Mild violence, sexual content and language. No gore.
Note: Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

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Full breakdown

Tone: tensestrength 2 of 3
cynicalstrength 2 of 3
darkstrength 2 of 3
melancholicstrength 1 of 3
Pacing: measured, 2 of 4, from slow-burn to relentless
Attention: engaged, 3 of 4, from background-friendly to demanding
Themes: conspiracy
corruption
power
greed
betrayal
Places: big city
single country house
Era: contemporary
Audience: adult
Form: nonlinear
Content intensity: Gore none
Language mild
Violence mild
Sex mild