PUSHING TIN

US, 1999, 124 minutes, Colour.
John Cusack, Billy Bob Thornton, Cate Blanchett, Angelina Jolie, Jake Weber, Kurt Fuller, Vicki Lewis.
Directed by Mike Newell.

Pushing Tin is a blend of the comic, the romantic, disaster film. It focuses on several air traffic controllers, their work, camaraderie, their home lives and tensions.

John Cusack is the star of the air traffic control centre. When Billy Bob Thornton arrives, there is macho rivalry. Cate Blanchett portrays Cusack’s wife, Angelina Jolie Billy Bob Thornton’s young and alcoholic wife. The encounters between the couples lead to the collapse of a marriage and the healing of a marriage.

The film is conventional in some ways – though the solid performances, the world of the air controllers and their lives and work, the tensions between the two, the bonds between the wives make it an above average drama.

The film was directed by British Mike Newell whose range of films include Bad Blood in New Zealand, Four Weddings and a Funeral and a Harry Potter film.

1.The blend of comedy, romance, drama? The airport setting, air traffic control? The neighbourhoods?

2.New Jersey, the airports, the control room, the restaurants, the home barbeques, homes? The contrast with Colorado, the outdoors? The city and the country? The musical score?

3.The title, the controllers, the planes as tin? The people at work, the room, their concentration, the computer graphics for the flight paths, the difficulties, fears, the comments about mistake, loss of nerve, the ethos? So many planes coming at once? The bomb scare and the consequences?

4.John Cusack as Nick, the focus of the film, the leader in the control room, the bonds with the other members? The discussions with Barry? With Ed? The man who lost his nerve? Wanting to come back in? The discussions with the boss? Timetables, the detail of the work? Nick and his relationship with Connie, the children? Home life, the detail, Connie and her busyness, going to the school meeting, her art classes? Meals, the barbeques? Normal – but some tension?

5.Russell and his arrival, his reputation, laconic, his skill at his work? The barbeque and Mary’s presence? The basketballs and the bet? Nick and his jealousy, the match competition and the burn, the continued macho competition? Russell’s attitude, Nick’s attitude? The others observing? Russell’s marriage, marrying a young wife? His discussions with Connie, lending her the French tapes? Nick and his self-consciousness, the rivalry, angers? The crisis? Blaming Russell about the plane, their fight? The irony of Russell’s heroism, staying? Nick and his being shamed? Russell and his leaving, going to Colorado? Nick coming to see him, the discussion, the image of the river, going in? Together under the plane and swirled by the draught? The irony that Russell’s marriage was made better? Nick’s worse?

6.Mary, her appearance, her drinking, bored, discussions with Connie, the other women, their comments about marriage break-up? The supermarket and her weeping, Nick taking her to dinner, the sexual encounter, her hostility, the aftermath, telling Russell the truth – and its effect on Nick? On Russell?

7.Connie, her life, nice, the barbeque, her busyness, art class? The death of her father – and Nick’s almost confession? On the plane, Nick’s behaviour, the truth and her being hurt? Nick and his wanting to stop the pilot, his madness about Russell’s conspiracy to down the plane? The reaction of the flight attendants? Telling Nick to leave? Her going away?

8.Nick and his collapse, behaviour in the plane, finally going back, the two mistakes? His being welcomed, the issue of the bet? Guiding the planes? Connie on the plane, his speaking to her, his apologising, his wanting to take her out? The possibility of reconciliation? Connie saying that he had not spoken like that before?

9.Themes of friendship, in the workplace, after work, the restaurants, camaraderie? Authorities? The guide taking the children through the air traffic control – and the crisis and getting them out?

10.Themes of marriage, family, bonds, fidelity, infidelity, careers and crisis?