Pushing Tin (1999)

The Worst Film Ever

Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

Cocky hotshot workaholic air traffic controller Nick Falzone (an excellent performance by John Cusack) reigns supreme as the top dog at the airport he works at. However, Nick's heretofore sturdy hold on things gets knocked out of whack with the arrival of laid-back, but virile and imposing new transfer Russell Bell (Billy Bob Thornton in peak rugged form). Pretty soon Nick's personal and professional lives take a downward turn for the worse.Director Mike Newell astutely captures the fierce high pressure nature of a highly unusual and intense workplace, keeps the enjoyable and engrossing story moving along at a steady pace, and maintains a quirky tone that balances precariously between flaky comedy and thoughtful drama. The offbeat and original script by Glen and Les Charles offers some stinging insights on the intrinsic destructive futility of macho competitive male one-upmanship and the continual struggle for control in one's life, but falters a bit at the end by trying to wrap things up too neatly in a bow.Fortunately, the uniformly fine acting by the bang-up cast holds this movie together: Cusack and Thornton both do sterling work in their meaty roles, Cate Blanchett delivers a touching turn as Nick's fed-up and neglected wife Connie, and Angelina Jolie brings a scorching vampy allure to her juicy part as Russell's luscious young babe wife Mary, plus there are sound supporting contributions from Jake Weber as easygoing smartaleck Barry Plotkin, Kurt Fuller as the weary Ed Clabes, Vicki Lewis as tough bodybuilding buff Tina Leary, Matt Ross as the high strung Ron Hewitt, and Jerry Grayson as gruff superior Leo Morton. Gale Tattersall's crisp widescreen cinematography provides a pleasing polished look. Anne Dudley's harmonic score does the tuneful trick. Not a complete success, but still worth a watch for those seeking something out of the ordinary.

Pushing tin is a confusing piece of work. I was under the impression it would be a story about air traffic controllers, but it is not. This is in fact a pure love/romance drama, and the traffic controller setting could really be swapped with anything else - it plays a very minor role and does not contribute anything interesting to the story at all. I believe the story writer wanted to make it attractive to a broader audience (not only girls) and decided to throw aviation into the mix to lure their boyfriends into the cinemas. A clever trick maybe, but an ugly one. Actors are OK though, Thornton in particular, so if you are a fan of love/romance dramas, maybe give it a try. Otherwise Ground Control, which is a REAL movie about air controllers, will be a much better choice.

I didn't actually watch for about an hour or so, but from what I made out, not a bad film, from director Mike Newell (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire). Basically Nick 'The Zone' Falzone (John Cusack) is one of many air traffic controllers at New York airport, a fast-paced job with a no-room-for-error attitude, Connie (Cate Blanchett) as his wife, and the reputation as the king of "pushing tin". But then enters reckless new transfer Russell Bell (Billy Bob Thornton), and so begins a quiet little battle for ego and status. You could question whether Nick slept with Russell's wife Mary (Angelina Jolie, Thornton's real wife at the time) for an ego boost or for genuine affection, but either way, Russell is very quietly planning something as payback. When a big emergency occurs at the airport, something to do with some terrorists hijacking planes or something, only Nick and Russell stay behind, and when it's all over, Russell is presented as the hero, Nick is presented as a wimp. I can't really remember how everything is settled in the end, but it is. Also starring Jake Weber as Barry Plotkin, Kurt Fuller as Ed Clabes, Vicki Lewis as Tina Leary and Matt Ross as Ron Hewitt. With good performances by Cusack and Thornton, and a good behind-the-scenes insight into the airport world, it is I suppose a likable comedy drama. Worth watching!

I was listening to Stephen and Sam from AllMovieTalk.com on their podcast the other day and they were listing their top 6 plane movies. Stephen mentioned this film and, while it is not entirely about planes, it is about air traffic controllers.John Cusack and Billy Bob Thornton are controllers. Cusack is the top dog, and Thornton is the new guy. They don't really get along, and things really get out of control when Cusack sleeps with Thornton's wife - Angelina Jolie.This is my third encounter with Miss Jolie today. It is her birthday, so I was recalling my favorite Jolie film (The Bone Collector) which came out the same year as this film. It was also the year for Girl, Interrupted, by the way. Anyway, I went to the mailbox this afternoon and there was this month's Esquire with Angelina on the cover, and now I see her her looking a fine as ever. It has been a Jolie day! And who is Cusack cheating on with Angelina? Why, it's Cate Blanchett. Ah, the grass is always greener...Director Mike Newell (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Donnie Brasco, Four Weddings and a Funeral) did a good job, but most of the credit for the movie goes to Cusack, who did a great job as someone dealing with a life going out of control.By the way, it is NOT a comedy. I heard it was billed as one, but it is more about what happens when you always try to be top dog and forget what is important in life.It was a GOOD Angelina day.