Pushing Tin (1999)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Mike Newell

Writers (WGA):

Darcy Frey (article)
Glen Charles (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

23 April 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Comedy

Tagline:

A Comedy about Life, Love, Airplanes and Other Bumpy Rides.

Plot:

A feud develops between two air traffic controllers: one cocky and determined while the other is restrained and laidback, which inevitably affects their lives.

Plot Keywords:

Air Traffic Controller | Job | Marriage | Adultery | Fishing

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

John Cusack	...	Nick Falzone
Billy Bob Thornton	...	Russell Bell
Cate Blanchett	...	Connie Falzone
Angelina Jolie	...	Mary Bell
Jake Weber	...	Barry Plotkin
Kurt Fuller	...	Ed Clabes
Vicki Lewis	...	Tina Leary
Matt Ross	...	Ron Hewitt
Jerry Grayson	...	Leo Morton
Michael Willis	...	Pat Feeney
Philip Akin	...	Paul
Mike O'Malley	...	Pete
Neil Crone	...	Tom
Matt Gordon	...	Ken
Joe Pingue	...	Mark

Also Known As:

Turbulenzen - und andere Katastrophen (Germany)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and a scene of sexuality.

Runtime:

124 min | Finland:119 min

Country:

Germany | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16 | Malaysia:18PL | Malaysia:U (cut) | Iceland:L | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:14A (Alberta) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PG (British Columbia/Manitoba) | South Korea:18 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | France:U | Germany:6 (w) | Mexico:B | New Zealand:M | Peru:14 | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | UK:15 | USA:R | Philippines:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Etobicoke, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

3 Miles Apart Productions Ltd.

Trivia:

Billy Bob Thornton's character (Russell Bell) states in the movie that he is half Irish (his father) and half Choctaw Indian (his mother). In real life, Mr. Thornton's father is of Irish ancestry, while his mother is half Choctaw Indian and half Italian.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: In the scene with the kids visiting the TRACON where they all work, a plane departs that doesn't call the controller and this ends up causing a near collision. The airport image on the radar scope is of Newark Liberty International (you can tell by the two lines running essentially North/South that represent the two parallel N/S runways 4L/22R and 4R/22L). However, when the scene changes to the actual plane on an actual runway departing North, you see it pass over simply the number "4" and then immediately over water. This can only be LaGuardia Airport as it is the only airport of the three in New York (JFK, LaGuardia, Newark) that has only one N/S runway (4/22 - both Newark and Kennedy have 4L/22R and 4R/22L and are marked with the "R" and "L" on them) and has water immediately to the north of it.

Quotes:

Nick Falzone: [to Russell Bell] I called your house and Mary said you'd be out here.
Nick Falzone: She sounds good
Nick Falzone: Oh, she wanted I give you this message, "See, I told you Colorado wasn't far enough".

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Tangled Web (2002)

Soundtrack:

Weather Watch

An unusual, whacky comedy, fun and feelgood.

Another brilliant performance by John Cusack, and an equally cool one by Billy Bob Thornton. These two actors work so well together, and provide a superb onscreen chemistry. There's some lovely visuals in there too, especially of the traffic control screens, or the standing on the runway video.

The story is sometimes odd, and the characters derail in the wierdest fashion, but it's a nice story and has a message for all competitive people out there. You won't laugh insanely, but you'll giggle. A very enjoyable film.