Push – 2009
The old saying goes, “all style, no substance” but the same cannot be said for Push. If anything, this superhero-esque sci-fi actionier is more like “all substance, no sense”. I have found one of the carnal sins of moving making is trying to smarten up a movie that doesn’t need to be bumped up a peg. In place of break-neck action, director Paul McGuigan (who helmed the 2006 cult hit Lucky Number Slevin) has opted to cram more information and back-story down our gullets then an unlucky turkey on thanksgiving, yet without ever really accomplishing anything but convolution.
To be fair, there is still a good lot to recommend about this film. Nobody could accuse Push of being unoriginal and to McGuigan`s credit the characters are more fully realized then those in most films of a similar ilk (McGuigan himself said he was more concerned with the character element then the action). Yet from the confusing opening to the splurge of character introduction in the opening act, many will find themselves drifting off and losing interest. Thankfully, by the final act the mood has settled, the heroes and villains drift in and out enough to become familiar and the supernatural element becomes significantly less convoluted. (Although some post-film research helped further yet) Cementing the movie in the realm of watchability is a spectacular final battle, shot almost entirely with stunt-work and the gritty effect is quite enticing.
The world is not as it may seem. Psychics are very real and they are both a blessing and a curse to a shadowing and sinister organization known only The Division (oooh, scary). Heavily monitored, some of those with special gifts work for The Division, others are on the run, some in hiding, but some become part of secret experiments to harness their unique gifts as weapons. Among these unique individuals are varying varieties of skills; there are Bleeders who can emit high frequency screeches that cause death, Movers who can move objects with their mind, Pushers who can insert thoughts and memories into others and the list goes on to include Shadow’s, Shifter’s, Sniffer’s, Stitcher’s, Watcher’s and Wiper’s. (You can see where confusion could set in) The story begins with a young Mover named Nick Grant (Chris Evans) who is attempting to avoid the Division and its shady leader Carver (Djimon Hounsou) who wants to keep tabs on him. He crosses paths with a young but gifted Watcher named Cassie (Dakota Fanning) who unfortunately has the nasty propensity to predict their deaths. Leading them to a high value subject of The Division’s (Kira, coincidently an old flame of Nick’s) Cassie, Nick and Kira try to prevent the powerful agency from getting hold of dangerous and powerful drug. I won’t go any further into the plot then that, because otherwise I’m fairly certain you would never read my reviews again.
Of the countless films in recent years, Push reminds me the most ofJumper in more ways then one. They both feature a small population of gifted individuals being hunted by a powerful and secretive organization, and with both securing the skills of a ruthless African American agent. (In Jumper’scase it was Samuel L. Jackson) More similar yet is the clear indication that the films are intended to be the first in a series of many (I will say that Push does an infinitely better job of wrapping up its chapter then the shamelessly gaping ending of Jumper) and with both I feel that any subsequent instalments will be a large improvement over the set-up and confusion of the original. So here is hoping that studios feel this inventive but uneven chase adventure was enough of a success for a sequel to push its way back into theatres.
© 2009 Simon Brookfield
