Cast: Chris Evans, Dakota Fanning, Camilla Belle, Djimon Hounsou, Joel Gretsch, Neil Jackson, Maggie Siff, Scott Michael Campbell, Colin Ford, Nate Mooney; Director: Paul McGuigan; Producers: Bruce Davey, William Vince, Glenn Williamson; Screenwriter: David Bourla; Music: Neil Davidge; Editor: Nicolas Trembasiewicz; Genre: Sci-Fi/ Fantasy; Cinematography: Peter Sova; Distributor: Summit Entertainment; Location: Hong Kong; Running Time: 111min;Technical Assessment: 3
Moral Assessment: 3
CINEMA Rating: For viewers 14 and above
An American government agency, The Division, genetically transforms citizens with paranormal abilities into psychic warriors. These gifted individuals are taken away from their families and any relationships. Those who are unwilling to participate are liquidated and brutally killed. Nick Grant (Chris Evans), a “mover” (those with telekinetic abilities), has been in hiding in Hong Kong since the Division murdered his father for refusing to cooperate. However, he is forced out of hiding when Cassie Holmes (Dakota Fanning), a 13-year-old “watcher” (clairvoyant) seeks his help to find Kira (Camille Belle), an escaped “pusher” (those who can manipulate minds) and Nick's long lost ex-girlfriend, who may hold the key in putting the Division's program to an end. Their lives are entangled and soon find themselves in a cat-and-mouse chase by Division Agent Harvey Carver (Djimon Honsou), who is out to get and stop them from achieving their goal.
Inspired by the emerging fantasy-sci-fi superhero genre, Push can easily pass as another fun-ride movie. One can never really guess what would happen next since all characters seem to have unnatural powers instrumental to any plot twists and turns. The narrative may be all too shallow but the multi-layered story arcs have kept the audience's interest up to the end. It is quite a disappointment that some plot elements are not developed like the roots and consequences of having supernatural powers. The actors satisfactorily deliver what is expected. Evans is able to carry the movie but it is Fanning who really gave life and spice in the entire feature with her wit and strong screen presence. The Hong Kong backdrop works well but it still remains as almost a milieu.
Since the fascination for superheroes and superpowers started, one classic moral came from the film adaptation of Spiderman, “to great power comes great responsibility”. Clearly paranormal psychic powers are no exemption. These abilities are long-time considered as gifts and must be used with utmost responsibility for the common good. The premise of “Push” clearly illustrates how a society’s evil scheme could manipulate its citizens and abuse God-given powers. Nick may have refused to be used for evil motives but he also did nothing to at least develop his abilities and use those to serve people in need. Again, evil triumphs because good people choose to do nothing. The same is actually true to all characters. All of them are simply concerned with their own personal quest for survival and not really mindful of any global issues like peace or war. In this sense, the movie becomes morally myopic. The entire stand of the movie in its fight against evil gets confusing at times as protagonists turns into antagonists thus blurring the line of good and bad. But then the movie is consistent with one message: paranormal abilities can be either good or bad depending on the person using it. And that no one holds what's going to happen in the future because the free will is always at work. Finally, what's missing in the movie could be the presence of a “force” which is far greater than any supernatural abilities. The movies theme, some scenes of violence, suggestive sexualities, and teenage alcoholism may not be suited for viewers below 14 years of age.
