Starting in the 1940s, certain lucky individuals were chosen for experimentation in order to create or enhance their psychic abilities. Now, decades later, a variety of second-generation psychics are all after the same thing -- a case containing a secret -- and hope to find it before The Division does.
This film will likely be seen as comparable to other superhero movies, such as "X-Men" or "Watchmen". And, in all fairness, it would be hard to critique it without mentioning recent films of the genre. I saw a stronger parallel between this one and "Night Watch", as their are not only good and evil factions, but a limited amount of powers the superhumans can have. Although i liked "Night Watch" better, this film was enjoyable and never lost my interest.
Unknown to me during my viewing, this film was very indirectly based on reality. I joked to my friend that this film was "based on a true story", but compared to some "true stories", this one might have a case. The US government did in fact have a Cold War program called the Stargate Project. This program, which sought out people with psychic abilities, continued all the way until 1995.
The strength of "Push" comes in its character development. Critics have said the film is too flashy, and the plot convoluted. I would tend to agree or at least sympathize with this -- there was a bit too much action at times, and the story was more dense than two hours could properly cover. This is a film that needs to be three hours or a trilogy. But, as I said, character development was strong. Where we didn't always understand what "the Division" does, we were able to understand the protagonists well enough to care about them.
Dakota Fanning delivers a breakthrough performance here. I've spent years making jokes at her expense, calling her the white girl who gets called up to play the precocious child in the latest big budget film. But Fanning is escaping the "child actor" phase, and really comes into her own in "Push". She plays a watcher (one who sees the future) that deals with very adult problems -- looming death, alcoholism and growing up alone.
Despite the film's few flaws -- the flashiness and convoluted story, including an ending some may find unsatisfying -- I really did enjoy this one and would recommend it to those who like superhero movies or just good, well-written action. Summit Entertainment has a history of producing great films -- "Memento" and "Fear and Loathing", to name just two -- and they should be proud to have this in their collection.
This film will likely be seen as comparable to other superhero movies, such as "X-Men" or "Watchmen". And, in all fairness, it would be hard to critique it without mentioning recent films of the genre. I saw a stronger parallel between this one and "Night Watch", as their are not only good and evil factions, but a limited amount of powers the superhumans can have. Although i liked "Night Watch" better, this film was enjoyable and never lost my interest.
Unknown to me during my viewing, this film was very indirectly based on reality. I joked to my friend that this film was "based on a true story", but compared to some "true stories", this one might have a case. The US government did in fact have a Cold War program called the Stargate Project. This program, which sought out people with psychic abilities, continued all the way until 1995.
The strength of "Push" comes in its character development. Critics have said the film is too flashy, and the plot convoluted. I would tend to agree or at least sympathize with this -- there was a bit too much action at times, and the story was more dense than two hours could properly cover. This is a film that needs to be three hours or a trilogy. But, as I said, character development was strong. Where we didn't always understand what "the Division" does, we were able to understand the protagonists well enough to care about them.
Dakota Fanning delivers a breakthrough performance here. I've spent years making jokes at her expense, calling her the white girl who gets called up to play the precocious child in the latest big budget film. But Fanning is escaping the "child actor" phase, and really comes into her own in "Push". She plays a watcher (one who sees the future) that deals with very adult problems -- looming death, alcoholism and growing up alone.
Despite the film's few flaws -- the flashiness and convoluted story, including an ending some may find unsatisfying -- I really did enjoy this one and would recommend it to those who like superhero movies or just good, well-written action. Summit Entertainment has a history of producing great films -- "Memento" and "Fear and Loathing", to name just two -- and they should be proud to have this in their collection.