Push (2009)

Director:

Paul McGuigan

Writer (WGA):

David Bourla (written by)

Release Date:

6 February 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

One push can change everything.

Plot:

Two young Americans with special abilities must race to find a girl in Hong Kong before a shadowy government organization called Division does.

Plot Keywords:

Hong Kong | Chase | Telekinetic | Hunted People | Male Female Relationship

Cast

Colin Ford	...	Young Nick
Joel Gretsch	...	Nick's Father
Djimon Hounsou	...	Henry Carver
Dakota Fanning	...	Cassie Holmes
Robert Tsonos	...	Division Doctor #1
Brandon Rhea	...	Division Doctor #2
Camilla Belle	...	Kira Hudson
Neil Jackson	...	Victor Budarin
Chris Evans	...	Nick Gant
Kai Cheung Leung	...	Dice Man
Sun Nan Hung	...	Dice Man's Heavy
Corey Stoll	...	Agent Mack
Scott Michael Campbell	...	Agent Holden
Wai Man Tam	...	Cook in Fish Market
Hal Yamanouchi	...	Pop Father (as Haruihko Yamanouchi)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, brief strong language, smoking and a scene of teen drinking.

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

Canada | UK | USA

Language:

English | Cantonese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

UK:12A | Ireland:15A | USA:PG-13 (certificate #44788) | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | Singapore:PG | France:U | South Korea:15 | Australia:M | Finland:K-15 | Argentina:13 | Mexico:B | Iceland:12 | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Portugal:M/12 | Japan:G | Netherlands:12

Filming Locations:

Hong Kong, China

Company:

Summit Entertainment

Trivia:

The scene where Camilla Belle's character Kira is kidnapped in a crowded street at gunpoint was filmed with no visible crew around, the camera being hidden in a van, yet no passers-by reacted.

Goofs:

Continuity: In Hook's introductory scene, he shows a girl his card-shifting trick. She requests "ace of spades", but she mouths something different from her voice. In the next scene, it's applied that he makes an ace of spades appear, however, a continuity error occurs that the card in his hand is actually a ten of spades.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Young Nick: Dad, what's happening?
Nick's Father: I need you to listen to me, like we're the last two people on the planet, okay Nick? Someday, a girl is going to give you a flower. You got that? A flower. And you have to help her, Nick. You help her, and you help us all. Okay? I know it doesn't make any sense right now, but I believe the woman who told me that. Do you think you can believe me?
[Nick nods]
Nick's Father: I love you. Know how I've said that you were special Nick? Turns out that I was right.

Soundtrack:

Everybody Ciao

Interesting premise...

Push offers a very interesting premise with its wide variety of psychics and the agency trying to keep it all under control and use them. Hong Kong offers an exotic background for the action to take place.

The movie makes an interesting attempt at being half action thriller, reminiscent of a Bourne movie, and half super-hero blockbuster, in the tradition of the X-Men. But director Paul McGuigan is never able to make us fully feel for the characters and their ordeal and the action sequences, while pleasant to watch, never instill emotional response. We're not scared for anyone, our blood does not pump during chases either.

The two stars of Push are an unlikely duo of actor which surprised me somewhat. Chris Evans has often been derided as being just another bland pretty face. Here, he is paired with young Dakota Fanning, who has been revered by many as a child prodigy actress. What's interesting to me is that, had I not seen previous films from these two, I wouldn't notice much difference in quality between the two. They both give a suitable performance. Neither Oscar-worthy nor garbage.

Unfortunately, the support cast is very weak. Camilla Belle is pretty but bland as usual. Cliff Curtis and Djimon Hounsou are both amazing actors but here they have very little to work with. I blame McGuigan and writer David Bourla for not providing them with opportunities to shine.

What makes this movie a 5 rather than a 6 is its confusing and botched conclusion. As if somehow the production ran out of time and needed to wrap things up on the spot. Perhaps hoping for a sequel? Push has an intriguing premise and more than enough basic material to be stretched into a trilogy or even a short TV series but as is the rule of thumb with those sort of things, it is doubtful things will get better should sequels be produced.

I wish the premise had been used to tell a better story, in a better way.