Mike Max (Bill Pullman) is a hollywood producer who has become rich and powerful thanks to brutal and bloody action films, but cuts himself off from his home life and neglected wife (Andie MacDowell) by the banks of phones and computers he uses to remain in contact with his business associates. Suddenly Mike is kidnapped by two bandits, but escapes and hides out with his mexican gardener's family. In order to track him down, the police call in a scientist (Gabriel Byrne) who is forced to use an orwellian surveillance system that enables government agents to assassinate their enemies at will.