There are few professions that give individual power to make life or death decisions on regular basis. Such responsibilities are bound to create a lot potential for drama. At least that was the general idea behind Pushing Tin, 1999 film directed by Mike Newell.
The plot, loosely based on the newspaper article by Darcy Frey, deals with air traffic controllers in charge of the airspace around New York City, where they have to handle 7000 flights a day. Such responsibility creates stress which reflects on their private lives and results in alcoholism, drug addiction, divorces and promiscuity. Protagonist, played by John Cusack, is Nick “Zone” Falzone, air traffic controller who, unlike his colleagues, appears to handle his private life with the same efficiency with which he does his job. Marriage to wife Connie (played by Cate Blanchett) seems to be exemplary and Zone enjoys utmost respect of his peers who consider him their unofficial leader. Things change with new arrival to air control centre. Russell Bell (played by Billy Bob Thornton) is an air traffic controller who take riskier approach to his job but always manages to land planes on time. Zone begins to feel that his authority is threatened so, in order to find as much information about his rival as possible, begins to woo his alcohol-prone wife Mary (played by Angelina Jolie).
British director Mike Newell has proven himself as a very diverse director, able to handle romantic comedies like Four Weedings and a Funeral as well as thrillers like Donnie Brasco. This film should have been another success on the account of very respected cast. John Cusack, in his early years specialised in roles of neurotics, plays character which is mostly calm, at least in the first part of the film. Billy Bob Thornton provides interesting portrayal of a man whose true motives and agenda are well-hidden. Angelina Jolie would, on the other hand, catch more attention with scenes that feature partial nudity than particularly memorable acting performance. She leaves worse impression than Cate Blanchett who obviously enjoy playing the role of Italian American housewife. Those efforts, however, can’t compensate for the very poor script by Glen and Les Charles, writers best known for their television work on Cheers. While there is number of vignettes with some of them being funny and interesting, they aren’t connected into coherent whole. Pushing Tin also proves to be overlong and the finale is over-dramatic and unconvincing. Most of the viewers are going to be disappointed, especially those who expect something better based on the formidable cast.
RATING: 4/10 (+)
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