Push (2009)

Two young Americans with special abilities must race to find a girl in Hong Kong before a shadowy government organization called Division does.

Director:

Paul McGuigan

Writer:

David Bourla

Stars:

Colin Ford, Dakota Fanning, Camilla Belle

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Colin Ford	...	Young Nick
Joel Gretsch	...	Nick's Father
Djimon Hounsou	...	Henry Carver
Dakota Fanning	...	Cassie Holmes
Robert Tsonos	...	Division Doctor
Brandon Rhea	...	Division Doctor
Camilla Belle	...	Kira Hudson
Neil Jackson	...	Victor Budarin
Chris Evans	...	Nick Gant
Kai Cheung Leung	...	Dice Man
Sun Nan Hung	...	Dice Man's Heavy
Corey Stoll	...	Agent Mack
Scott Michael Campbell	...	Agent Holden
Wai Man Tam	...	Cook in Fish Market
Hal Yamanouchi	...	Pop Father (as Haruihko Yamanouchi)

Storyline

A group of young American ex-pats with telekinetic and clairvoyant abilities are hiding from a clandestine U.S. government agency. They must utilize their different talents and band together for a final job enabling them to escape the agency forever.

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Plot Keywords:

hong kong | hiding | chase | telekinetic | government agency | 

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Taglines:

One push can change everything.

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Genres:

Action | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, brief strong language, smoking and a scene of teen drinking

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [jp] SND [fr]

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English Cantonese

Release Date:

6 February 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

Héroes

Filming Locations:

China

Box Office

Budget:

$38,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£625,300 (UK) (20 February 2009)

Gross:

$31,806,100 (USA) (8 May 2009)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Summit Entertainment, Icon Productions, Infinity Features Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The subject of the film piqued director Paul McGuigan's interest and led him to find out all that he could about it on the Internet, some of which he found quite incredible, notably in the experiments conducted during the Cold War by both the Soviets and the Americans.

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Goofs

In Hook's introductory scene, he shows a girl his card-shifting trick. She requests "ace of spades", but she mouths something different from her voice. In the next scene, it's implied that he makes an ace of spades appear, however, the card in his hand is actually a ten of spades.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Young Nick: Dad, what's happening?
Nick's Father: I need you to listen to me, like we're the last two people on the planet, okay Nick? Someday, a girl is going to give you a flower. You got that? A flower. And you have to help her, Nick. You help her, and you help us all. Okay? I know it doesn't make any sense right now, but I believe the woman who told me that. Do you think you can believe me?
[Nick nods]
Nick's Father: I love you. Know how I've said that you were special Nick? Turns out that I was right.

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Connections

Referenced in Cyrus (2010)

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Soundtracks

"Everybody Ciao"
Written by Daniele Benatie and Fernando Paterlini
Courtesy of 5 Alarm Music

User Reviews

A great piece of something different... I already bought it!

The trailer for "Push" did not give me a desire to see it in the theater... It was actually a last minute choice to go see it in hopes to see a good action movie. I was certainly surprised -- I have heard some bad reviews of this film, but I must say the choice to go see it was WORTH my time. The story was excellent and pieced together very well. The way it was written was something I rarely see in movies anymore. Most directors rely on special effects and explosions anymore, but "Push" used it's action/CG as a companion to the plot. The plot's structure was on the line of "The Jacket" or "Burn After Reading" where details, no matter how subtle, seem to twist and mesh into a well-thought-out idea. The little visions of the future and appearance of random characters are not meant to be simply passed off. You are allowed to think in this one... What a nice change! Switches between the gritty and crisp, colorful filming worked well in bringing a certain mood to the appropriate scenes (which also looks brilliant on BluRay). The actions scenes were great as well... With the company of the Pushers' powers and the manipulation of people and objects around them, those scenes did not usually go in the direction I anticipated.

This is not fair to call "Push" a "super hero" movie. It is not really a super hero movie, nor is it a traditional action movie; I believe this was the intention. The bolder science fiction basis kept the plot focused and within the realm of "its own" feel and stayed away from the "everything everyone else is doing" feel. Actions scenes were powerful yet short; I was left wanting more, so when the next series of craziness began I was more involved and appreciated it more.

Sure there were some editing flaws, but even major blockbusters going back to "Jurassic Park" have issues. Even still, I have found that some of these reported "flaws" in "Push" are incorrect after viewing it for a second time on BluRay.

As a final note, the entire cast held their roles wonderfully and left a lasting impression of each of their characters. I guarantee that if the original cast chose to return, I would be in line for a "Push" sequel on opening night.