'Push' Is a Cut Above

'Superhero' clan brings new concepts to a genre in its prime

BY EMIL TIEDEMANN

Chris Evans trades in his Fantastic Four outfit for a different kind of superhero movie, one that tends to its own quality rather than to a marketing campaign like most other films featuring these types of characters. Paul McGuigan's Push is set and filmed in Hong Kong, which immediately allows it to set itself apart from the Marvel and DC comic flicks that have become all the rage during the last decade.

Evans' character is slowly polishing his God-given ability to move objects with his mind, when he is suddenly thrust into an underground world of others with powers similar to his own. Some can heal wounds with their bare hands ("stitchers"), some can control your thoughts and readjust memories ("pushers"), and others can see the near future ("watchers"). Dakota Fanning's character is the latter and uses her gift to locate Evans and then recruits him to help her change the imminent visions she has of each of their fates.

Fanning, who is still just 14-years-old, is growing up on film, and shows us that her acting is along for the ride, as she pulls off an impressive performance in Push, including a convincing drunk scene! The unlikely pair, with the imperative help of their paranormal friends--including the beautiful Camilla Belle as one of the world's strongest "pushers"--upset the balance of their destiny, and unravel the "Division," a government-run organization that soughts after these unique individuals in order to benefit from their unusual powers.

The characters' abilities are intriguing, the locations are eye-catching, and the visuals are simple yet worthy of its peers. The flashy action film ends with the potential of a follow-up, which I--like many others I hope--welcome.

3/5 stars

Pushing At Greatness?

Push is a science fiction thriller directed by Paul McGiugan who directed Lucky Number Slevin. The film stars Chris Evans, Dakota Fanning, Camille Belle and Djimon Hounsou. The plot is your basic government agency trying to use something it probably shouldn’t for bad things. Throw in a few “super powers” and voila you have a bunch of action sequences all ready to play around with. While the movie briefly touches on all the different types of powers one can have it doesn’t give us much of an explanation of the movers', pushers', watchers', bleeders', sniffs', shifters', wipers', shadows' or stitches' actual powers. We are just given a brief narration over the opening credits where we learn the basic “rules” that apply to the world in the movie.

After that we are thrust into the story with very little attention paid to setting up the characters. The basic premise all set and the characters now in place we do end up seeing a masterfully directed plot. The weakness of the back story to Dakota Fanning and Chris Evans characters early in the film is filled in while they are learning about each other and start gaining chemistry. Fanning also has the anime look to her, which could be a nod to the pop culture of their world. She seems like she will be sticking around in Hollywood for a long while with her terrific acting. Chris Evans gets a little help from his Sunshine co-star Cliff Curtis, who is always demanding more attention on screen over him. Djimon Hounsou also portrays a very menacing villain although not your typical villain as he is very quite and seems more in the background than he really is. The director weaves complete doubt not only for the characters in the movie but for the viewer as well. This plot twist is one you know is coming and the director establishes it so you know it is coming. But it still works as he eventually gives you enough doubt that you can’t ignore it, only to be suckered in at the ending that you knew was coming. Aside from a few plot holes that are very minor and could be brushed off by the screenwriter or director with a few quick words about powers this movie is a very fun film.

Unless you watch a lot of foreign films the visuals will also be a treat. With many shots of the Hong Kong skyline, city streets and the marketplace we get to view a part of the Chinese culture not normally seen in the film industry. As much as the New York skyline is fantastic, Hong Kong is exotic and captured wonderfully with all the lights brightly shining that looks beautiful on the big screen. The film score is also very subtle and is always kicking around in the background and picking up the tempo for the action sequences. But a few scenes I felt the music was trying to take itself in another direction briefly by switching to some kind of electronic disco for a seconds only to right itself back on track, not sure the reason for this but it took me out of the movie for a moment.

A high concept idea with good acting and directing make this are very fun action flick that will probably hold up for multiple viewings. I really hope that this film makes enough for a sequel. It has lots of potential for future instalments and as long as they are done like this one I will gladly pay for another movie ticket.

4 out of 5 stars
Colin Enquist