"Pushing Tin" tells the story of a charismatic aircraft controller, who seems to have it all: Success, a beautiful wife and the respect of his friends. When a new controller enters the scene, all of this seems in doubt due to his aura and extraordinary talent, that soon finds the two of them fighting for the lead position in this game.I really have to say that this movie kept me entertained throughout all of its playtime. You really want to know what is about to happen and the producers very sensitively built up the conflict, in order to get the audience emotionally involved and keep the actions more or less plausible. Unfortunately, especially the beginning and the end of the film are very stereotypical Hollywood settings, with very one-dimensional winner-characters and a not so surprising happy end. In my eyes, there would have been potential for an even better film without this will to follow old paths.All in all this is a beautiful little film, perfect for a date night or if you want to get your head free. It takes its plot serious without touching big topics or leaving you depressed.

Nick Falzone (John Cusack) is a hot shot air traffic controller at the New York TRACON. It's a high pressure environment. Russell Bell (Billy Bob Thornton) is the cool threatening veteran controller who joins the crew. He has an unstable past. Nick finds himself competing against Russell in every aspect. Nick is supposedly happily married to his wife Connie (Cate Blanchett) with a couple of kids but he ends up cheating with Russell's hot young wife Mary (Angelina Jolie).It's a nice inside look at a high pressure but little seen part of the world. It has its darker tones but it's not really a dark comedy. It seems to need some more wacky off-centered characters. It needs some broader humor and some more interesting style. Thornton is good as the slightly crazy menace. The cast is generally a good bunch. The movie just needs a sharper bite.

Pushing Tin is the most realistic movie in the history of movies, and I know it for sure. Billy Bob Thorton is a shaman who has moved to a strange new place - no one knows where it is, it is a mystery - with his wife (in the movie and in real life!) Angelina Jolie. John Cusack is a hot young air traffic controller, his character probably has a dumb nickname or something. Like "Shoop." He's in that other movie where he runs a record shop. He suucks. Anyways, he is afraid of Billy Bob or something, he seems very insecure. They're always making mean faces at each other from afar, and saying one-liners at each other and stuff. They're too wussy to actually fight it out like a couple of bros. The airplanes almost hit each other sometimes, don't panic, it's all good.

I was listening to Stephen and Sam from AllMovieTalk.com on their podcast the other day and they were listing their top 6 plane movies. Stephen mentioned this film and, while it is not entirely about planes, it is about air traffic controllers.John Cusack and Billy Bob Thornton are controllers. Cusack is the top dog, and Thornton is the new guy. They don't really get along, and things really get out of control when Cusack sleeps with Thornton's wife - Angelina Jolie.This is my third encounter with Miss Jolie today. It is her birthday, so I was recalling my favorite Jolie film (The Bone Collector) which came out the same year as this film. It was also the year for Girl, Interrupted, by the way. Anyway, I went to the mailbox this afternoon and there was this month's Esquire with Angelina on the cover, and now I see her her looking a fine as ever. It has been a Jolie day! And who is Cusack cheating on with Angelina? Why, it's Cate Blanchett. Ah, the grass is always greener...Director Mike Newell (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Donnie Brasco, Four Weddings and a Funeral) did a good job, but most of the credit for the movie goes to Cusack, who did a great job as someone dealing with a life going out of control.By the way, it is NOT a comedy. I heard it was billed as one, but it is more about what happens when you always try to be top dog and forget what is important in life.It was a GOOD Angelina day.