Push

Movie name: Push
Year of release: 2009
Director: Paul McGuigan
Stars: Chris Evans, Dakota Fanning, Camilla Belle, Djimon Hounsou, Cliff Curtis, Ming-Na, Nate Mooney, Neil Jackson
Genre: Sci-fi, Thriller
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 4

Synopsis:
"Push" is the new film from Paul McGuigan, following his previous effort "Lucky Number Slevin". The film follows Nick, a young man with unusual abilities who is contacted by young Cassie, in need of help to save her mother. Cassie herself is possessed of special abilities and as the film progresses, we notice that there are plenty of young men and women, all of whom possess these special powers. They are all after a case with a special formula, that was stolen by a young woman named Kira (herself with special powers). The film ends up being a cat and mouse chase where the ultimate goal is to get the case and save Cassie's mother (and themselves). The film drinks directly from the mythology that "X-Men" have created, but where those characters had some depth, here all of the characters are paper thin, and their entire purpose is to support the exhibition of their powers. The film mixes the noirish concept with the superhero theme, and the hybrid ends up falling short. The screenplay is certainly missing the originality that this film needed to gather some more attention. The acting doesn't really help much - Dakota Fanning ends up being the most memorable actor, while everyone else sleepwalks throughout the entire run of the film. A missed opportunity.