Thriller 'Push' piles on the superhero style
"Push" - It came and left theaters faster than a speeding bullet, but "Push" is actually a decent sort-of-superhero flick that should get another look on DVD.
Chris Evans (the Human Torch from those awful "Fantastic Four" movies) plays Nick, one of a growing number of people with special abilities being hunted down by the government. Nick is a "mover"; he can move objects with his mind. Others in this tribe of paranormals include "watchers" (can see the future), "pushers" (can implant memories/thoughts into another person's mind) and "bleeders" (can scream at lethally high decibels). The feds want to round up these folks and turn them into weapons of war - part of a series of human experiments that date back to the Cold War.
Director Paul McGuigan takes this basic setup and adds a plot involving a mysterious suitcase being sought by both sides. He then slathers on the style: frenetic edits, slow motion sequences and vibrant cinematography that captures the crowded feel of Hong Kong, where the movie is set.
"Push" won't win any awards for originality, but I found myself hooked by its energy. Evans, Dakota Fanning and Djimon Hounsou all do well with their rather standard sci-fi/action flick roles. (Fanning uses her expressive eyes to wring some genuine emotion out of her part.) McGuigan stages a few inventive action sequences, including a restaurant shootout in which the participants never actually hold their guns. This isn't a great effort, but it's good enough to warrant checking out. The DVD includes a nice presentation of the film along with a cast commentary and a dubious look at the "real science" behind the story. (PG-13; Summit Entertainment, $26.99 or $34.99 for Blu-ray)
"Knowing" - The latest brainy sci-fi/action hybrid from "Dark City" director Alex Proyas boasts a great premise, a couple of beautifully directed action scenes and a series of overheated, cliche-ridden movie moments that sink the whole thing. Nicolas Cage plays John, an MIT professor struggling to raise his son after the death of his wife. His son brings home from school one day a paper covered with a seemingly random series of numbers; the paper had been placed inside a 50-year-old time capsule recently unearthed at school. John studies the numbers, which appear to predict a series of disasters (like the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks). With a couple of disasters still to come, John throws himself into figuring out whether he can prevent them from occurring.
At its best, "Knowing" is low-key and creepy in the M. Night Shyamalan mold. But Proyas keeps cranking up the melodrama and sci-fi mumbo-jumbo until the story becomes flat-out ridiculous. (It doesn't help that the script relies too often on clichés and groan-inducing schmaltz.) There are some stunning images here, though, and they make "Knowing" worth a rental. The DVD includes a Proyas commentary and a making-of featurette. (PG-13; Summit Entertainment, $26.99 or $34.99 for Blu-ray)
"The Unborn" - Some strong talent (writer-director David Goyer, actor Gary Oldman) can't save this lukewarm supernatural horror flick about a college student haunted by scary dreams and visions. Casey (Odette Yustman), still trying to get over her mother's suicide, tries to understand what the visions mean, and what connection they might have to her late mother. Goyer delivers some creepy images (especially the face of St. Charles' 9-year-old Ethan Cutkosky, made up to look evil and frightening here), but the convoluted plot ends up being more silly than scary. The DVD includes an unrated cut of the film (just a minute longer than the theatrical) and deleted scenes. (PG-13; Universal, $29.98 or $39.98 for Blu-ray)
Also out this week - "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Vol. XV" (Shout! Factory); "Third Watch: The Complete Second Season" (Warner Home Video); "Kath and Kim: Season One" (Universal)