Push

Review by Gareth Von Kallenbach

Inside a secure facility a woman named Kira (Camilla Belle), is about to be injected with an experimental drug that will soon set a chain of events into motion that will turn Hong Kong into a battleground.

The facility is operated by the ultra secret agency known as "The Division" who are tasked with locating, controlling, training - and at times - eliminating those who possess psychic abilities.

Their aim - to create an army of highly trained specialists with psychic abilities.

In the new action film, Push, Chris Evans stars as Nick Grant - a man who has tried to keep a low profile after seeing his father murdered by "The Division" ten years earlier.

Nick has taken refuge in Hong Kong in an effort to stay away from "The Division" as he has no desire to get involved with their (or for that matter anyone's) agenda or cause.

Nick has become indebted to several local thugs thanks to a fairly destructive gambling problem, yet it is his inability to fully use his psychic powers (to move objects with his mind) that becomes a bigger problem when "The Division" arrives looking for a runaway.

Needless to say, Nick is eager to get out of town before he gets dragged into the conflict.

Shortly after "The Division" agents leave his home, Nick is visited by a young girl named Cassie (Dakota Fanning), who informs him that they need to work with one another to earn six million dollars and save themselves.

While Nick is hesitant, he conveniently remembers that is late father told him "a young girl would one day give him a flower and when she comes, he must do as she says".

What handy and specfic fatherly advice...

Before long, Nick and Cassie are attacked by a local gang who, like Cassie and Nick, are able to use psychic abilities.

After a narrow escape, Nick learns that Cassie is able to see the future and she has learned that the woman that "The Division" is seeking is vital (as she has stolen a valuable drug that they need to enhance the psychic abilities of those they inject).

They fact that the drug has proven fatal to everyone injected (aside from Kira) and would command a huge price has "The Division", Nick, Cassie and the local gang scrambling to locate Kira.

Cassie has also informed Nick that she sees both Nick and her dying as a result of their involvement and must find a way to change their fates.

As if matters were not complicated enough, leading "The Division" search is Henry Carver (Djimon Hounsou), the same man behind the death of Nick's father.

Carver will stop at nothing to retrieve Kira and the missing drug, and he and his dangerous minions do not care how many people die along the way.

Push is an interesting film that puts the focus on the characters rather than FX. While there is action in the film, it does not dominate the film either.

The neon and crowded streets of Hong Kong serve as a perfect backdrop to Push and the strong work by Chris Evans and Dakota Fanning make for a winning combination  - as does the interesting (if not slightly Heroes-esque) premise of the film.

While Push does lose some of its pacing along the way (as it seems unsure if it wants to be an all out action flick or a drama), the film rebounds and provides a conclusion which is an obvious lead-in for an inevitable sequel.

While some suggest the movie seems like a rip off of Heroes, I must admit I found Push to be fresher and more entertaining than the show - which, in my opinion, has be coasting since the spectacular first twelve episodes.

In the end, Push has just enough action and originality to combine with the charismatic and interesting cast to make an overally enjoyable movie experience.

3.5 out of 5

Push
Australian release: 5th February, 2009
Official Site: Push
Cast: Jason Stratham, Francois Berleand, Eriq Ebouaney
Director: Olivier Megaton

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