John Cusack and Billy Bob Thornton display their wide ranging talents in this film about competing air traffic controllers. The film is at its best when we see these two fine actors hard at work and one upmanship. The film really hits home and makes we laymen truly understand the stresses and pressures of being air traffic controllers. Watching the daily rituals of these controllers is an eye opening experience and worth the price of admission. The film's major drawback is its pace. Although we see overt and not so overt competition between Thornton and Cusack throughout the film, the plot fails to keep up the pace of the controllers hectic jobs-- and that's what this movie really needs. The talents of Angelina Jolie and particularly Cate Blanchett are wasted in this movie. Jolie plays the weird wife of Thornton and we never truly understand the depth of their relationship. Blanchett plays a mildly bored, typical suburban New York housewife, a complete misuse of this fine actress. Overall, the film is a good, not great one.
Review of Pushing Tin
