John Cusack is Nick Falzone, an air traffic controller. Air traffic control is, statistically, the most stressful job in the world, and if you don't believe me; watch Keenan and Kel and see how highly strung Keenan's dad is! However, life is good for Nick; he has a beautiful wife (Cate Blanchett), his friend's think he's great. he's never made a mistake in his job and he holds the 'world record' for the most amount of balls through a basketball net in succession. Great. All that changes, however when the cold Russell Bell turns up at headquarters. Simply put; Bell is better than Falzone. He can hold a lit match for longer, he's better at basketball than Nick, he's a better singer and, worst of all, he has a younger, more beautiful wife (Angelina Jolie, later his wife in real life). Nick Falzone, is not a happy camper.
Pushing Tin is a film about the male ego. The focus of the movie is always on the struggle between Nick and Russell. This is epitomised best in the hilarious sequence in which Nick is driving Russell to a restaurant. He's swerving about all over the road, weaving in and out of traffic, trying to impress Russell; only to look over to find him asleep. Pushing Tin features several moments of rib tickling humour, but also a lot of the more cerebral humour, which you'll either find hilarious or miss. As a comedy, this film works.
John Cusack, Billy Bob Thornton, Angelina Jolie and Cate Blanchett; Pushing Tin features a great cast. They all perform their roles well, too. John Cusack in particular. He's a great actor, he's proved time and time again that he has the ability to carry a film by himself with his charm and good looks, and although he's not on his own here; it is one of his best performances. The characters in Pushing Tin are rather well done, especially as I was expecting this to be a John Cusack vehicle. Aside from being a comedy, the film is also a character study; one which studies the character of a male that has always had everything his way, when he's not getting his way anymore. The story, although comically overblown, does ring true to life of this type of situation. That's where the film draws most of it's humour from; it's the fact that the audience can relate to a lot of the stuff in this film that makes it funny.
Overall, Pushing Tin is a very nice movie. It's finale is overblown, and the film is slightly overlong, but it's also a very funny character study that won't fail to generate a few laughs. I recommend Pushing Tin, it's one of the most underrated movies of 1999.
Pushing Tin is a film about the male ego. The focus of the movie is always on the struggle between Nick and Russell. This is epitomised best in the hilarious sequence in which Nick is driving Russell to a restaurant. He's swerving about all over the road, weaving in and out of traffic, trying to impress Russell; only to look over to find him asleep. Pushing Tin features several moments of rib tickling humour, but also a lot of the more cerebral humour, which you'll either find hilarious or miss. As a comedy, this film works.
John Cusack, Billy Bob Thornton, Angelina Jolie and Cate Blanchett; Pushing Tin features a great cast. They all perform their roles well, too. John Cusack in particular. He's a great actor, he's proved time and time again that he has the ability to carry a film by himself with his charm and good looks, and although he's not on his own here; it is one of his best performances. The characters in Pushing Tin are rather well done, especially as I was expecting this to be a John Cusack vehicle. Aside from being a comedy, the film is also a character study; one which studies the character of a male that has always had everything his way, when he's not getting his way anymore. The story, although comically overblown, does ring true to life of this type of situation. That's where the film draws most of it's humour from; it's the fact that the audience can relate to a lot of the stuff in this film that makes it funny.
Overall, Pushing Tin is a very nice movie. It's finale is overblown, and the film is slightly overlong, but it's also a very funny character study that won't fail to generate a few laughs. I recommend Pushing Tin, it's one of the most underrated movies of 1999.