The beauty of these created sci-fi worlds is that none of it has to make sense. In writing a story like this, you're given a blank slate to create a world as you see fit. Want people to be able to bend the world quite literally in half? Well, have fun. That's what Push tries to do. Late in WWII, Nazi scientists tried to harness the power of physics, turning them into unstoppable soldiers. Unfortunately it never worked, but the science was always there so governments around the world created their own people to do that, dubbed 'Division.' Now there are unique individuals with powers/gifts just trying to survive. There are watchers, people who can see into the future, movers, individuals who can literally make things move, and pushers, those who can manipulate the mind of others to do something on command. Pretty cool ideas, huh?
Ten years after his father was killed at the hands of a Division attack, Nick Gant (Chris Evans) is basically wasting his life away in a dingy apartment in Hong Kong. Nick is a mover -- able to move objects with his mind -- who has let his skills deteriorate over the years. One day he is approached by a 13-year old girl, Cassie (Dakota Fanning), who claims she needs his help. Cassie is a watcher and can see into the future, seeing a future event here that could save thousands of lives and with a rather lucrative $6 million pay-off. Somewhat suspicious of everything, Nick goes along with it. What he doesn't know is that Cassie's future has them both dying in the effort. A Division agent, Carver (Djimon Hounsou), is gunning for them as he tries to capture Kira (Camilla Belle), a physic more powerful than anyone he's ever worked with. All four individuals are on a violent collision course.
Having sat through this and genuinely trying to keep an open mind throughout, my first reaction is that this movie had so much potential....and did very little with it. Comparing it to 2010's Inception isn't fair because they're completely different movies, but the same basic, unique and smart science fiction principle is there. With Inception, director Christopher Nolan created this ultra-unique, mind-bending and ultimately bizarre but entertaining universe where we can explore our dreams. It didn't always make perfect sense, but you went along for the ride and the necessary pieces fell into place. I felt like that never happened here as director Paul McGuigan assumes that Fanning's monologue over the opening credits will explain everything. It certainly lays everything out for you, but in a very general sense.
The movie is this exploration into a different world where these people with powers and crazy mind skills are in a desperate war to survive. Beyond that, I never felt like there was a good enough explanation for the craziness. More could have been done to show this world. Instead, I felt like I was racing to keep up with the watchers, the movers, the pushers, the sniffers, the bleeders and blah blah blah. Take a little time, and develop things out as necessary. The Hong Kong setting is a great choice but even that gets hamstrung in the process. Too much slow-motion movement and an emo-rock soundtrack just seems out of place. And of course -- because what would a movie be without it? -- there is a lost love story, two individuals finding each other in all this craziness. I certainly didn't see that coming around the corner.
It's a funny thing when a movie has this potential to do something new and innovative that audiences haven't seen before. Evans' Nick can move things with his mind. Hounsou's Carver and Belle's Erika as pushers can put a thought into your mind against your will. Put that together and you've got guns floating through the air, and nameless henchmen moving on command with no regard for their lives. Sounds like some pretty cool action sequences, doesn't it? You'd be right, but McGuigan to his credit doesn't over-do those sequences. For the action, think a blend between Inception and the hallway fight and the Matrix series at its best. If anything, I would have done more with the action which is original and fun to watch and most importantly, easily watchable. It isn't edited so heavily that everything becomes a blur. If that means anything to you, seeing the movie.
Three of the four main leads are pretty good, starting with Evans as Nick, a character that is never really developed beyond 'orphan adjusting to loss of father, crazy mind skills available.' Evans is an underrated actor, and he makes the best of it. His scenes with Fanning are interesting, the two having a solid chemistry on-screen, and the teen actress again shows what kind of talent she's working with. Hounsou is an underwritten badass, a villain who should have been used more. And Belle? Well, she sure is pretty! But that's about it though. She doesn't bring much personality to the part, looking confused most of the time. Her character's struggles require that, but come on! Show some signs of life!
I wanted to like this movie more than I did but never really got into it. I can understand the love and/or hate for the movie, but I'm coming down right in the middle. It's clear producers thought this would be a success because the ending leaves the door open for sequels or even a series, but I don't see that happening.
Push <---trailer (2009): **/****
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