Push

Director:
Paul McGuigan

Writer:
David Bourla

Cast:
Chris Evans as NIck Gant
Dakota Fanning as Cassie Holmes
Camila Belle as Kira Hudson
Djimon Hounsou as Henry Carver

Released: 2009
Studio: Summit
Box Office: $31,811,527

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 22%
IMDB Score: 6.1

Date Seen: July 20, 2009
Format: Blu-ray

Push sucks. There it is, the shortest review I will ever give a movie. It is nothing but a mishmash of different psychic abilities, shady government agents, and Chinese mobsters. Buried in there somewhere is some form of a plot. Nick Gant is living in Hong Kong trying to hide from “Division,” a government agency trying to round up people with psychic abilities and turn them into suoer soldiers. Nick is a “mover” which means he can move objects telepathically. He is found by Cassie Holmes who is a “watcher” which means she can see the future. Her mother was recently captured by Division and thinks that Nick can help her. They come across Kira who just escaped from division and is also on the run. Kira can put thoughts and memories into people’s minds which is called “pushing.” Also included are “sniffs,” “bleeders,” and I forget how many others.

The cinematography of the film made me feel like I was in a blender. Quick jumpy cuts and shaky camerawork made the film seem like watching Bourne Identity on fast-forward. Although the special effects were use subtly and added to the film nicely. It never seemed to get into a rhythm. The story moved so fast that I had a hard time keeping up with what was going on. Supposedly the first film in a planned trilogy, Push doesn’t really stand alone as a complete film. The cliffhanger ending left many unanswered questions and the movie never came to a resolution.

Mediocre acting and the convoluted plot leave the film in a jumbled mess. Only watch this movie if you are in the mood for a sci-fi film that will give you a headache, and not from over thinking either.

Favorite Performance:
None

Favorite Quote:
Kira Hudson: So Pinky… your wife gave you that name?
Pinky Stein: No, the division did, sweetheart.

Grade:
D

Recommendation:
Skip it.

Knowing

Director:
Alex Proyas

Writers:
Ryne Douglas Pearson, Juliet Snowden, Stiles White

Cast:
Nicolas Cage as John Koestler
Rose Byrne as Diana
Chandler Canterbury as Caleb Koestler
Lara Robinson as Abby/Lucinda

Released: 2009
Studio: Summit
Box Office: $79,957,634

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 32%
IMDB Score: 6.6

Date Seen: July 17, 2009
Format: DVD

Knowing is more than a typical sci-fi action film. It brings up worthwhile questions about fate vs. freewill and faith vs. science. Nicolas Cage’s character is an atheist astro-physicist at MIT whose son finds a list of seemingly random numbers that were buried 50 years ago in a time capsule by a strange little girl. After leaving an accidental stain on the paper, he notices the numbers 0911012996. He finds out that it refers to 9/11/2001 and the 2996 killed that day. Through some research he discovers that some of the numbers refer to the dates and number killed in disasters and accidents over the last 50 years. He tracks down the daughter of the little girl and unravels a mystery bigger than he could ever imagine.

This movie asked me to consider things that very few films made in recent years have. There is particular scene involving a plane crash in which Koestler discovers the meaning of the rest of the numbers and tries to rescue some of the survivors. In the process he fulfills the prediction of the number of people killed. It brings up interesting points about whether man can change his destiny or if he is only being brought along for the ride by some higher power. I also liked the scenes where Koestler and one of his colleagues discuss the numbers and their possible ramifications. The mood is also very ominous. There is a sense if imminent doom hanging over the entire movie. It keeps you on the edge of your seat anxiously waiting to see what happens next. The special effects are also above average, especially given the film’s relatively low budget for an effects driven film.

Despite all of its positives, the movie gets dragged under by its somewhat weak plot and very unsatisfying ending. It had the potential to be one of the best sci-fi films of the last few decades, but never overcomes its shortfalls and ends up as an intriguing but only moderately satisfying film.

Favorite Performance:
Lara Robinson as Abby/Lucinda

Favorite Quote:
Stacey (One of Prof. Koestler’s students): Well, what do you think?
Koestler: I think shit just happens. But that’s me.

Grade: B

Recommendation:
Worth a rent.