Push (2009 film)
Encyclopedia
Push is a 2009 American science fiction thriller film directed by Paul McGuigan
. The film stars Chris Evans
, Dakota Fanning
, Camilla Belle
, Cliff Curtis
, Joel Gretsch
and Djimon Hounsou
. The film centers on a group of people born with various superhuman abilities who band together in order to take down a government agency that is using a dangerous drug to enhance their powers in hopes of creating an army of super soldiers.
A decade later, the American Division tests a power boosting drug on a "Pusher" (someone who can implant thoughts in others' minds), named Kira. Hundreds of subjects died from the drug before her; she is the first to survive. Rendering the doctor unconscious, Kira steals his security clearance card and an augmentation drug-filled syringe and escapes. In Hong Kong
, Nick is hiding from the Division as an expatriate
. He attempts to use his ability to make a living, but his poor skills at "moving" at a dice game leave him indebted to a local Triad controlled by "Bleeders", bred by the now-defunct Chinese Division. A young girl named Cassie Holmes arrives at Nick's apartment, explaining that she is a "Watcher" and that they are going to find a case containing 6 million dollars. They are attacked by Triad Bleeders but escape.
Nick and Cassie go to a nightclub on a hint from Cassie's predictions. Nick sees an old friend, "Hook" Waters, who is a "Shifter". He uses his abilities to make a replica of the clue in Cassie's drawing and tells them to go to Emily Hu, a "Sniff" who can help them find Kira. Nick and Cassie find Kira, who had a romantic relationship with Nick. They recruit a "Shadow" named "Pinky" Stein to hide Kira from the "Sniffs". Cassie finds the key to a locker in which Kira hid a case. With the aid of Cassie's visions, they piece together the events that led them to meet; Cassie's mother used her visions to set a complex plan in motion that will destroy Division. Nick devises a plan that involves seven envelopes in which he places instructions; each person in the group is entrusted with one red envelope, and none are to be opened until the right time. While Kira and Pinky leave, Nick and Cassie share a goodbye. Cassie tells him to "take an umbrella, it's going to rain", he replies with "you be careful too".
Nick uses a "Wiper" to erase his memories of the plan, ensuring that Watchers from both Division and the Triads will not be able to interfere. Hook retrieves the case, which has the syringe Kira stole, and brings it to Cassie. He shifts another case to match the case with the syringe. Cassie takes the shifted case to Nick's apartment and waits. Nick regains consciousness: he has no memory of the envelopes or his plan. He opens his envelope, which tells him to return home. He finds the case in his room but Carver introduces himself to Kira as a friend, stating that her memories are false; she is a Division agent who volunteered to take the augmentation injection and suffered amnesia as a side-effect. Carver shows Kira her badge.
Nick goes to retrieve the augmentation drug and confronts Carver and Kira. Carver tells Kira and Nick that their relationship never happened; it was a "push" memory. Kira reveals she has been using Nick and Nick takes the three to the building that contains the lockers and the case. They are ambushed by the Triads. In the midst of the fight, Carver injures Nick. Nick grabs the case and jams the syringe into his arm, which "kills" him. After the fights ends, Nick wakes up. Cassie appears with an umbrella and smiles at him. "I told you to bring an umbrella" she tells him, revealing it was part of the plan. Cassie retrieves the true case, revealing that Nick injected himself with soy sauce, as they planned. Asked whether they will see Kira again, Cassie tells Nick that they will see "Miss Trouble soon enough".
Flying back to America with a sleeping Agent Carver, Kira opens her purse, finding her red envelope. She remembers Nick telling her to open it when "she started doubting the truth" and opens it. She finds a photograph of herself and Nick obviously in a relationship, and a message written on the photograph that says "KILL HIM" on the upper left corner and "See U soon, Nick" on the lower right. Kira "pushes" Carver, commanding him to put his gun in his mouth and pull the trigger. The screen fades to black, followed by the sound of a gunshot.
Watchers have the ability to foresee the future to varying degrees. As knowledge of the future invariably causes that future to change, Watchers' visions of the future in their direct sphere of influence are subject to frequent shifting.
Movers:
Movers are powerful telekinetics who are trained to identify the specific atomic frequency of a given material and alter the gravitational field around it, usually causing the nearby air to appear warped. This allows them to move both animate and inanimate objects. Advanced Movers can work at the molecular level, creating Energy shields in the air around them or create Power Fists and kicks, a strike that delivers 3x the power than a punch delivered normally.
Pushers:
Pushers have the ability to implant memories, thoughts and emotions into the minds of other people in order to manipulate them. The skill level of the Pusher determines how many people the Pusher is able to control at one time, and how vivid the implanted memories are. A powerful Pusher can push a large group of people at the same time, basically creating a personal army. A Pusher is able to make a person do anything the Pusher desires, even commit suicide. A Pusher's eyes indicate how powerful they are: their pupils will dilate to certain degrees depending on how powerful the push is (for example, Henry Carver's eyes are rendered completely black, signifying that he is an extremely able and effective Pusher).
Bleeders:
Bleeders have the ability to emit high-pitched sonic vibrations that cause ruptures in a target's blood vessels. While using this ability, their pupils turn into vertical slits, like a snake's, because of synthetic materials implanted in them to protect the blood vessels from the effects of their own ability. They are also sometimes known as Screechers or Screamers.
Sniffs:
Sniffs are highly developed psychometrics who can track the location of people or objects over varying distances. Like bloodhounds, their ability is increased if they have tactile access to an object that has been in direct contact with the subject. Sniffs receive information in the form of images, which is why identifiable landmarks help increase their effectiveness.
Shifters:
Shifters can temporarily alter the appearance of an object by manipulating the patterns of light interacting with it. Once the illusion is established, it remains with the object for a short period of time. For example, a Shifter could touch a one dollar bill and alter it to appear as a one hundred dollar bill until the effect expires. The object shifted must have roughly the same dimensions as the object it is shifted into. The length of time that the effect will last is based on the Shifter's experience.
Wipers:
Wipers are skilled at either temporarily or permanently erasing memories, an invaluable asset in espionage. Experience will dictate the accuracy of their wipes, though there is always the danger that they will eliminate a desired memory.
Shadows:
Shadows are trained to block the vision of other clairvoyants such as Sniffs, making any subject within their target radius appear "dark". Experience will enhance the size of the area they can shadow and the intensity of their shielding effect. Shadows need to be awake to manifest their ability, so it is common for a detail of two Shadows to operate in shifts while protecting a person or object for extended periods. Most Shadows are effective only against Sniffs, but some extremely powerful Shadows are able to block even Watchers.
Stitches:
Stitches are psychic surgeons
trained to quickly reconstruct cells to their previous or healthy state. Using only their hands, they can heal and even "unheal" whatever they have done. For more detailed work, Stitches use a silver based cream on their hands which acts as a conductor for their ability.
Phasers:
Phasers are able to alter their body density and can pass through any and all solid objects. They are also able to phase others and objects through solid objects as well, but they have to be holding on to that certain person/object. Phasers can only stay phased for how ever long they are able to hold their breath.
Changers
Changers have the ability to shape-shift into anyone person they desire.
Readers
Readers have the ability to read the minds and thoughts of others.
Stoppers
Stoppers have the ability to stop time. They can only freeze the objects/people in the rooms they are in. Some stoppers have been noted to be able to freeze entire households. They are able to selectively freeze at will. ( Meaning if there is a big group of people they can freeze how ever many people they desire and freeze and unfreeze certain body parts of others) but this has been noted to take a great more deal of concentration for them. When outside they can only freeze at whatever object they are pointing at.
Shockers
Shockers have the ability to absorb and create electricity through the palms and fingertips of their hands, because of their ability to absorb electric they can with stand being shocked on a greater scale then the average human being but they are more prone to tempers and fits.
Stealths
Stealths have the ability to absorb light and are able to bend the light around themselves to make them invisible to the naked eye, which gives them a stealth-like ability. By touching others, they are able to make them invisible alike. Stealths can still be seen by infra-red goggles or animals that hunt by sensing body heat. They are only able to stay in invisible for a certain period of time because eventually the light they absorbed to bend the light around their bodies will dissipate and they will have to absorb more light. Also because of their ability to absorb light and shield it around them, brightly shining lights like the sun or LED lights have no effect on their eyes.
Whispers:
Whispers are skilled telepaths. Experience will increase the amount of people a Whisper can connect with. As the number of people they connect with increases, the harder it is to stay connected. They can also connect with strong emotions in the form of a psychic blast that gives the receiver an extreme headache; if the Whisperer focuses hard enough they can immobilize the receiver.
Starters:
Starters can ignite any object or thing by physical touch.
Timers:
Timers have the ability to bend time at will, unlike Stoppers. Timers can only slow time down or speed it up, some advanced Timers can even slow time on entire cities or towns.
TimeRiders:
TimeRiders are powerful time travellers. They have the ability to create their own Time Portal, tapping into the power of "Chaos Space". A dimension that alters the very physics of space-time. TimeRiders can use this space and travel to any time they wish. (for example, a TimeRider can go to 1831, 1912, or 2553) Traveling forward to the future will take more energy than going backwards to the past.
Thinkers:
Thinkers have being normally said as a 'Super Brain'. Their ability is to have a mind more powerful then a supercomputer. They can solve mathematics more easily than advanced mathematicians. Their Intelligence Quotients were of 50x that of normal humans. Their vision will be accompanied by holograms of what was needed to help them solve problems. (For example, if a Thinker was looking at 328 x 248, the numbers will be calculated like a normal human calculation, but visually as fast as a calculator. The answer 81, 344 will be shown has a hologram in the answer box.)
Rippers:
Rippers possess superhuman strength. They're is strong enough to pull off a safe door with her bare hands, send people flying off their feet with a single hit, overpower and strangle a grown man, break away from restraining cuffs that could hold down an elephant, lift large amounts of weight, throw people and heavy objects like ragdolls and literally rip people in half. Rippers also have superhuman feats of durability able to withstand physical blows from grown men without getting bruised or showing any sign of weakness.
reported that 21% of critics had given the film positive reviews, based upon a sample of 106. At Metacritic
, which assigns a normalized
rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the film has received an average
score of 36, based on 21 reviews.
On its opening weekend, the film opened #6 grossing $10,079,109 in 2,313 theaters with a $4,358 average. As of Nov 2010, the film has grossed $48,858,618 worldwide, and $16,285,488 in DVD sales in the US alone making $65,157,106 (not including worldwide DVD sales) surpassing its budget cost of $38,000,000 by over $27 million.
Variety: “A confused jumble of parts in search of a whole, Push plays like a mix-tape sample of scenes from Heroes
, Fringe
, Alias
and The X-Files
as it follows good guys gifted with paranormal powers trying to stave off bad guys with the same…”
The Hollywood Reporter: “While the concept of corralling assorted Movers (those with telekinetic talents), Watchers (clairvoyants) and, of course, Pushers (mind controllers with the ability to alter one’s memories) and placing them against a stylish Asian backdrop is intriguing, the picture seldom rises to the occasion. …monotonous…”
Screen Daily: “The most compelling thing about Push is its setting. The film was shot entirely on location, which affords it a fresh look and feel, be it in a chase through a local fish market or the juxtaposition of modern skyscrapers and bamboo scaffolding…[The screenplay] is a jumbled mess of narrative clichés.”
, an imprint of DC Comics
, published a comic book
mini-series
that acts as a prequel
to the film. It was written by Marc Bernardin and Adam Freeman (who write The Highwaymen for Wildstorm) and Bruno Redondo supplied the art. Issues were published between November 2008 and February 2009, and a softcover collection (ISBN 978-1401224929) was published in September, 2009.
and Blu-ray
on July 7, 2009. The DVD included deleted scene
s, a commentary, and a 'making of' featurette. Wal-Mart
released the film as a double-feature DVD with Knowing
.
, E1 Entertainment, and Icon Productions
announced that they were developing a television series based on the film. David Hayter
will write the pilot and will executive produce with Dark Hero Studios partner Benedict Carver. It is unknown if the actors and actresses from the original film will reprise their roles.
website.
Paul McGuigan (filmmaker)
Paul McGuigan is a film director, best known for directing films such as Lucky Number Slevin and Push. He has also directed episodes of Sherlock and Monroe.-Filmography:-Awards:...
. The film stars Chris Evans
Chris Evans (actor)
Christopher Robert "Chris" Evans is an American actor. He played Cary Baston on the television series Opposite Sex, and transitioned to a film career, starring in several hits, including Not Another Teen Movie , Fierce People , Fantastic Four, sequel Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer , and...
, Dakota Fanning
Dakota Fanning
Hannah Dakota Fanning , better known as Dakota Fanning, is an American actress. Fanning's breakthrough performance was in I Am Sam in 2001. As a child actress, she appeared in high-profile films such as Man on Fire, War of the Worlds, and Charlotte's Web...
, Camilla Belle
Camilla Belle
Camilla Belle is an American actress. Her works include The Lost World: Jurassic Park, When a Stranger Calls, 10,000 BC, The Quiet, Push and Speedy Singhs.- Early life :...
, Cliff Curtis
Cliff Curtis
Clifford Vivian Devon "Cliff" Curtis is a New Zealand actor who has had major roles in film, including The Piano, Whale Rider, and Blow, and most recently has appeared in NBC's television series Trauma. He is also co-owner of independent film production company Whenua Films...
, Joel Gretsch
Joel Gretsch
Joel James Gretsch is an American actor. His roles include Tom Baldwin on the USA Network series The 4400, the monstruous Capt./Maj./Col. Owen Crawford in the Steven Spielberg produced 2002 sci-fi miniseries Taken and Father Jack Landry on V.-Early life:Gretsch was born in St...
and Djimon Hounsou
Djimon Hounsou
Djimon Diaw Hounsou is a Beninese actor and model. As an actor, Hounsou has been nominated for two Academy Awards.-Early life:Djimon Hounsou was born in Cotonou, Benin, in 1964, to lbertine and Pierre Hounsou, a cook. He emigrated to Lyon in France at the age of thirteen with his brother, Edmond....
. The film centers on a group of people born with various superhuman abilities who band together in order to take down a government agency that is using a dangerous drug to enhance their powers in hopes of creating an army of super soldiers.
Plot
A narrator describes how people with psychic abilities have been involved with the United States government since 1945. Two "Movers", Nick Gant and his father, are on the run from the "Division". Realizing that escape is impossible, Nick's father tells him of a vision he received from a "Watcher"; a girl will give him a flower and he is to help her in order to help all the people with powers. Nick's father throws Nick into an air vent as Agent Henry Carver of the Division arrives. Nick's father is killed.A decade later, the American Division tests a power boosting drug on a "Pusher" (someone who can implant thoughts in others' minds), named Kira. Hundreds of subjects died from the drug before her; she is the first to survive. Rendering the doctor unconscious, Kira steals his security clearance card and an augmentation drug-filled syringe and escapes. In Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, Nick is hiding from the Division as an expatriate
Expatriate
An expatriate is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person's upbringing...
. He attempts to use his ability to make a living, but his poor skills at "moving" at a dice game leave him indebted to a local Triad controlled by "Bleeders", bred by the now-defunct Chinese Division. A young girl named Cassie Holmes arrives at Nick's apartment, explaining that she is a "Watcher" and that they are going to find a case containing 6 million dollars. They are attacked by Triad Bleeders but escape.
Nick and Cassie go to a nightclub on a hint from Cassie's predictions. Nick sees an old friend, "Hook" Waters, who is a "Shifter". He uses his abilities to make a replica of the clue in Cassie's drawing and tells them to go to Emily Hu, a "Sniff" who can help them find Kira. Nick and Cassie find Kira, who had a romantic relationship with Nick. They recruit a "Shadow" named "Pinky" Stein to hide Kira from the "Sniffs". Cassie finds the key to a locker in which Kira hid a case. With the aid of Cassie's visions, they piece together the events that led them to meet; Cassie's mother used her visions to set a complex plan in motion that will destroy Division. Nick devises a plan that involves seven envelopes in which he places instructions; each person in the group is entrusted with one red envelope, and none are to be opened until the right time. While Kira and Pinky leave, Nick and Cassie share a goodbye. Cassie tells him to "take an umbrella, it's going to rain", he replies with "you be careful too".
Nick uses a "Wiper" to erase his memories of the plan, ensuring that Watchers from both Division and the Triads will not be able to interfere. Hook retrieves the case, which has the syringe Kira stole, and brings it to Cassie. He shifts another case to match the case with the syringe. Cassie takes the shifted case to Nick's apartment and waits. Nick regains consciousness: he has no memory of the envelopes or his plan. He opens his envelope, which tells him to return home. He finds the case in his room but Carver introduces himself to Kira as a friend, stating that her memories are false; she is a Division agent who volunteered to take the augmentation injection and suffered amnesia as a side-effect. Carver shows Kira her badge.
Nick goes to retrieve the augmentation drug and confronts Carver and Kira. Carver tells Kira and Nick that their relationship never happened; it was a "push" memory. Kira reveals she has been using Nick and Nick takes the three to the building that contains the lockers and the case. They are ambushed by the Triads. In the midst of the fight, Carver injures Nick. Nick grabs the case and jams the syringe into his arm, which "kills" him. After the fights ends, Nick wakes up. Cassie appears with an umbrella and smiles at him. "I told you to bring an umbrella" she tells him, revealing it was part of the plan. Cassie retrieves the true case, revealing that Nick injected himself with soy sauce, as they planned. Asked whether they will see Kira again, Cassie tells Nick that they will see "Miss Trouble soon enough".
Flying back to America with a sleeping Agent Carver, Kira opens her purse, finding her red envelope. She remembers Nick telling her to open it when "she started doubting the truth" and opens it. She finds a photograph of herself and Nick obviously in a relationship, and a message written on the photograph that says "KILL HIM" on the upper left corner and "See U soon, Nick" on the lower right. Kira "pushes" Carver, commanding him to put his gun in his mouth and pull the trigger. The screen fades to black, followed by the sound of a gunshot.
Types of Superhumans
Watchers:Watchers have the ability to foresee the future to varying degrees. As knowledge of the future invariably causes that future to change, Watchers' visions of the future in their direct sphere of influence are subject to frequent shifting.
Movers:
Movers are powerful telekinetics who are trained to identify the specific atomic frequency of a given material and alter the gravitational field around it, usually causing the nearby air to appear warped. This allows them to move both animate and inanimate objects. Advanced Movers can work at the molecular level, creating Energy shields in the air around them or create Power Fists and kicks, a strike that delivers 3x the power than a punch delivered normally.
Pushers:
Pushers have the ability to implant memories, thoughts and emotions into the minds of other people in order to manipulate them. The skill level of the Pusher determines how many people the Pusher is able to control at one time, and how vivid the implanted memories are. A powerful Pusher can push a large group of people at the same time, basically creating a personal army. A Pusher is able to make a person do anything the Pusher desires, even commit suicide. A Pusher's eyes indicate how powerful they are: their pupils will dilate to certain degrees depending on how powerful the push is (for example, Henry Carver's eyes are rendered completely black, signifying that he is an extremely able and effective Pusher).
Bleeders:
Bleeders have the ability to emit high-pitched sonic vibrations that cause ruptures in a target's blood vessels. While using this ability, their pupils turn into vertical slits, like a snake's, because of synthetic materials implanted in them to protect the blood vessels from the effects of their own ability. They are also sometimes known as Screechers or Screamers.
Sniffs:
Sniffs are highly developed psychometrics who can track the location of people or objects over varying distances. Like bloodhounds, their ability is increased if they have tactile access to an object that has been in direct contact with the subject. Sniffs receive information in the form of images, which is why identifiable landmarks help increase their effectiveness.
Shifters:
Shifters can temporarily alter the appearance of an object by manipulating the patterns of light interacting with it. Once the illusion is established, it remains with the object for a short period of time. For example, a Shifter could touch a one dollar bill and alter it to appear as a one hundred dollar bill until the effect expires. The object shifted must have roughly the same dimensions as the object it is shifted into. The length of time that the effect will last is based on the Shifter's experience.
Wipers:
Wipers are skilled at either temporarily or permanently erasing memories, an invaluable asset in espionage. Experience will dictate the accuracy of their wipes, though there is always the danger that they will eliminate a desired memory.
Shadows:
Shadows are trained to block the vision of other clairvoyants such as Sniffs, making any subject within their target radius appear "dark". Experience will enhance the size of the area they can shadow and the intensity of their shielding effect. Shadows need to be awake to manifest their ability, so it is common for a detail of two Shadows to operate in shifts while protecting a person or object for extended periods. Most Shadows are effective only against Sniffs, but some extremely powerful Shadows are able to block even Watchers.
Stitches:
Stitches are psychic surgeons
Psychic surgery
Psychic surgery is a procedure typically involving the supposed creation of an incision using only the bare hands, the supposed removal of pathological matter, and the seemingly spontaneous healing of the incision....
trained to quickly reconstruct cells to their previous or healthy state. Using only their hands, they can heal and even "unheal" whatever they have done. For more detailed work, Stitches use a silver based cream on their hands which acts as a conductor for their ability.
Phasers:
Phasers are able to alter their body density and can pass through any and all solid objects. They are also able to phase others and objects through solid objects as well, but they have to be holding on to that certain person/object. Phasers can only stay phased for how ever long they are able to hold their breath.
Changers
Changers have the ability to shape-shift into anyone person they desire.
Readers
Readers have the ability to read the minds and thoughts of others.
Stoppers
Stoppers have the ability to stop time. They can only freeze the objects/people in the rooms they are in. Some stoppers have been noted to be able to freeze entire households. They are able to selectively freeze at will. ( Meaning if there is a big group of people they can freeze how ever many people they desire and freeze and unfreeze certain body parts of others) but this has been noted to take a great more deal of concentration for them. When outside they can only freeze at whatever object they are pointing at.
Shockers
Shockers have the ability to absorb and create electricity through the palms and fingertips of their hands, because of their ability to absorb electric they can with stand being shocked on a greater scale then the average human being but they are more prone to tempers and fits.
Stealths
Stealths have the ability to absorb light and are able to bend the light around themselves to make them invisible to the naked eye, which gives them a stealth-like ability. By touching others, they are able to make them invisible alike. Stealths can still be seen by infra-red goggles or animals that hunt by sensing body heat. They are only able to stay in invisible for a certain period of time because eventually the light they absorbed to bend the light around their bodies will dissipate and they will have to absorb more light. Also because of their ability to absorb light and shield it around them, brightly shining lights like the sun or LED lights have no effect on their eyes.
Whispers:
Whispers are skilled telepaths. Experience will increase the amount of people a Whisper can connect with. As the number of people they connect with increases, the harder it is to stay connected. They can also connect with strong emotions in the form of a psychic blast that gives the receiver an extreme headache; if the Whisperer focuses hard enough they can immobilize the receiver.
Starters:
Starters can ignite any object or thing by physical touch.
Timers:
Timers have the ability to bend time at will, unlike Stoppers. Timers can only slow time down or speed it up, some advanced Timers can even slow time on entire cities or towns.
TimeRiders:
TimeRiders are powerful time travellers. They have the ability to create their own Time Portal, tapping into the power of "Chaos Space". A dimension that alters the very physics of space-time. TimeRiders can use this space and travel to any time they wish. (for example, a TimeRider can go to 1831, 1912, or 2553) Traveling forward to the future will take more energy than going backwards to the past.
Thinkers:
Thinkers have being normally said as a 'Super Brain'. Their ability is to have a mind more powerful then a supercomputer. They can solve mathematics more easily than advanced mathematicians. Their Intelligence Quotients were of 50x that of normal humans. Their vision will be accompanied by holograms of what was needed to help them solve problems. (For example, if a Thinker was looking at 328 x 248, the numbers will be calculated like a normal human calculation, but visually as fast as a calculator. The answer 81, 344 will be shown has a hologram in the answer box.)
Rippers:
Rippers possess superhuman strength. They're is strong enough to pull off a safe door with her bare hands, send people flying off their feet with a single hit, overpower and strangle a grown man, break away from restraining cuffs that could hold down an elephant, lift large amounts of weight, throw people and heavy objects like ragdolls and literally rip people in half. Rippers also have superhuman feats of durability able to withstand physical blows from grown men without getting bruised or showing any sign of weakness.
Cast
- Chris EvansChris Evans (actor)Christopher Robert "Chris" Evans is an American actor. He played Cary Baston on the television series Opposite Sex, and transitioned to a film career, starring in several hits, including Not Another Teen Movie , Fierce People , Fantastic Four, sequel Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer , and...
as Nick Gant, a Mover living in Hong Kong in order to stay hidden from Division, whose father was killed by Carver. He was born in America and once had a relationship with Kira. One form of income - although not always successful - is to manipulate betting games involving dice using his ability.- Colin FordColin FordColin Ford is an American child actor and voice actor. He is best known for his role as young Sam Winchester in the 2005 TV Series, Supernatural.-Biography:...
as a young Nick Gant.
- Colin Ford
- Joel GretschJoel GretschJoel James Gretsch is an American actor. His roles include Tom Baldwin on the USA Network series The 4400, the monstruous Capt./Maj./Col. Owen Crawford in the Steven Spielberg produced 2002 sci-fi miniseries Taken and Father Jack Landry on V.-Early life:Gretsch was born in St...
as Nick's father Jonah, an advanced Mover whose refusal to join the Division cost him his life. It is implied the he and Hook once worked in Division together. - Dakota FanningDakota FanningHannah Dakota Fanning , better known as Dakota Fanning, is an American actress. Fanning's breakthrough performance was in I Am Sam in 2001. As a child actress, she appeared in high-profile films such as Man on Fire, War of the Worlds, and Charlotte's Web...
as Cassie Holmes, the daughter of the greatest Watcher Division has ever encountered, and a Watcher in her own right. Like all abilities, hers is not fully developed as this happens through training. She is sometimes confused by what she draws in her premonitions.- Cassie's mother Sarah Frank is uncredited; a powerful Watcher who was captured by Division to prevent her use of powers against them. It is through her that most of the events occur as she helped Kira escape Division HQ, paid Wo to erase Kira's memories, as well as get Teresa in the right place to heal Nick and told Nick's father to tell his son to follow the one who gave him a flower. Though this alone shows the strength of her Watcher abilities, as she saw this all happen at least a decade ago where most can only see a few hours or days into the future.
- Camilla BelleCamilla BelleCamilla Belle is an American actress. Her works include The Lost World: Jurassic Park, When a Stranger Calls, 10,000 BC, The Quiet, Push and Speedy Singhs.- Early life :...
as Kira Hudson/Hollis, a high-level Pusher, a recent escapee of Division, and the only Division patient to have survived experimentation. - Djimon HounsouDjimon HounsouDjimon Diaw Hounsou is a Beninese actor and model. As an actor, Hounsou has been nominated for two Academy Awards.-Early life:Djimon Hounsou was born in Cotonou, Benin, in 1964, to lbertine and Pierre Hounsou, a cook. He emigrated to Lyon in France at the age of thirteen with his brother, Edmond....
as Agent Henry Carver, a Division agent and a powerful Pusher that killed Nick's father. He is sent to recapture Kira. - Ming-NaMing-NaMing-Na is a Macanese-born American actress. She has been credited with and without her family name, but most credits since the late 1990s have been without it...
as Emily Hu, a Sniffer who helps Nick & Cassie find Kira. She works as a fortune teller in Hong Kong. - Cliff CurtisCliff CurtisClifford Vivian Devon "Cliff" Curtis is a New Zealand actor who has had major roles in film, including The Piano, Whale Rider, and Blow, and most recently has appeared in NBC's television series Trauma. He is also co-owner of independent film production company Whenua Films...
as "Hook" Waters, a Shifter. He used to be in Division and after getting out, his wife died in a "car accident," and he knew Division was involved. Since he moved to Hong Kong he has begun hanging out in high class escort bars where he uses his shifting ability to pay his way. He implies that Nick's father had a similar past and it is confirmed in the Comics that both use to work for Division. He has a habit of saying "that won't last long" after he uses his abilities. - Nate Mooney as "Pinky" Stein, a Shadow who hid Kira from the Sniffs. His nickname is derived from Division's removal of his right "pinky" finger.
- Corey Stoll as Agent Mack, a Sniffer agent.
- Scott Michael Campbell as Agent Holden, a Sniffer agent.
- Neil JacksonNeil JacksonNeil Jackson is an English actor and writer who has appeared in several television series and films, but is probably best known for his role as Marcus on Blade: The Series and Sasha on Make It or Break It. His screenwriting credits include the film The Passage directed by Mark Heller and released...
as Victor Budarin, an advanced Mover and Carver's right hand man. - Maggie SiffMaggie SiffMargaret "Maggie" Siff is an American actress best known for her television roles, notably department-store heiress Rachel Menken Katz on the AMC drama Mad Men and Dr. Tara Knowles on the FX drama Sons of Anarchy...
as Teresa Stowe, a Stitch who helps heal Nick after an encounter with the bleeders, as requested by Cassie's mother, who told her to be in a certain place at a certain time and help whomever was there. She is, however, not seen as altruistic, but, instead, out for personal gain, rather than helping Cassie and Nick overthrow Division. - Paul Car as Wo Chiang, a Wiper who lives on a house boat in Hong Kong Harbour.
- Xiao Lu Li as Pop Girl, a Chinese Triad Watcher who tries to find Nick and Cassie throughout Hong Kong. Like Cassie, she draws her visions. Her visions are based on others' intentions and decisions.
- Kwan Fung Chi and Jacky HeungJacky HeungJacky Heung Cho is a Hong Kong actor. He is the son of film producer/presenter Charles Heung, and the nephew of Jimmy Heung.-Filmography:-External links:*...
as Pop Boys, the two Triad Bleeders. - Haruhiko Yamanouchi as Pop Father, Triad Bleeder and father to the three 'Pop' siblings.
Reception
Push was generally poorly received by critics. Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
reported that 21% of critics had given the film positive reviews, based upon a sample of 106. At Metacritic
Metacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
, which assigns a normalized
Standard score
In statistics, a standard score indicates how many standard deviations an observation or datum is above or below the mean. It is a dimensionless quantity derived by subtracting the population mean from an individual raw score and then dividing the difference by the population standard deviation...
rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the film has received an average
Weighted mean
The weighted mean is similar to an arithmetic mean , where instead of each of the data points contributing equally to the final average, some data points contribute more than others...
score of 36, based on 21 reviews.
On its opening weekend, the film opened #6 grossing $10,079,109 in 2,313 theaters with a $4,358 average. As of Nov 2010, the film has grossed $48,858,618 worldwide, and $16,285,488 in DVD sales in the US alone making $65,157,106 (not including worldwide DVD sales) surpassing its budget cost of $38,000,000 by over $27 million.
Variety: “A confused jumble of parts in search of a whole, Push plays like a mix-tape sample of scenes from Heroes
Heroes (TV series)
Heroes is an American science fiction television drama series created by Tim Kring that appeared on NBC for four seasons from September 25, 2006 through February 8, 2010. The series tells the stories of ordinary people who discover superhuman abilities, and how these abilities take effect in the...
, Fringe
Fringe (TV series)
Fringe is an American science fiction television series created by J. J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. The series follows a Federal Bureau of Investigation "Fringe Division" team based in Boston, Massachusetts under the supervision of Homeland Security...
, Alias
Alias (TV series)
Alias is an American action television series created by J. J. Abrams which was broadcast on ABC for five seasons, from September 30, 2001 to May 22, 2006...
and The X-Files
The X-Files
The X-Files is an American science fiction television series and a part of The X-Files franchise, created by screenwriter Chris Carter. The program originally aired from to . The show was a hit for the Fox network, and its characters and slogans became popular culture touchstones in the 1990s...
as it follows good guys gifted with paranormal powers trying to stave off bad guys with the same…”
The Hollywood Reporter: “While the concept of corralling assorted Movers (those with telekinetic talents), Watchers (clairvoyants) and, of course, Pushers (mind controllers with the ability to alter one’s memories) and placing them against a stylish Asian backdrop is intriguing, the picture seldom rises to the occasion. …monotonous…”
Screen Daily: “The most compelling thing about Push is its setting. The film was shot entirely on location, which affords it a fresh look and feel, be it in a chase through a local fish market or the juxtaposition of modern skyscrapers and bamboo scaffolding…[The screenplay] is a jumbled mess of narrative clichés.”
Comic
WildstormWildstorm
WildStorm Productions, or simply WildStorm, published American comic books. Originally an independent company established by Jim Lee and further expanded upon in subsequent years by other creators, WildStorm became a publishing imprint of DC Comics in 1999...
, an imprint of DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
, published a comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
mini-series
Limited series
A limited series is a comic book series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
that acts as a prequel
Prequel
A prequel is a work that supplements a previously completed one, and has an earlier time setting.The widely recognized term was a 20th-century neologism, and a portmanteau from pre- and sequel...
to the film. It was written by Marc Bernardin and Adam Freeman (who write The Highwaymen for Wildstorm) and Bruno Redondo supplied the art. Issues were published between November 2008 and February 2009, and a softcover collection (ISBN 978-1401224929) was published in September, 2009.
Home release
Push was released on DVDDVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
and Blu-ray
Blu-ray Disc
Blu-ray Disc is an optical disc storage medium designed to supersede the DVD format. The plastic disc is 120 mm in diameter and 1.2 mm thick, the same size as DVDs and CDs. Blu-ray Discs contain 25 GB per layer, with dual layer discs being the norm for feature-length video discs...
on July 7, 2009. The DVD included deleted scene
Deleted scene
In Entertainment, especially the film and television industry, Deleted scenes are parts of a film removed or censored from or replaced by another scene in the final "cut", or version, of a film...
s, a commentary, and a 'making of' featurette. Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
released the film as a double-feature DVD with Knowing
Knowing (film)
Knowing is a 2009 American-British science fiction film directed by Alex Proyas and starring Nicolas Cage. The project was originally attached to a number of directors under Columbia Pictures, but it was placed in turnaround and eventually picked up by Escape Artists. Production was financially...
.
Television series
On January 19, 2010, Summit EntertainmentSummit Entertainment
Summit Entertainment LLC is an independent film studio headquartered in Santa Monica, California with international offices in London.-History:...
, E1 Entertainment, and Icon Productions
Icon Productions
Icon Productions LLC is an American independent production company founded in August 1989 by actor/director Mel Gibson and Australian producing partner Bruce Davey.-History:Icon started when Gibson was having trouble in financing the 1990 film Hamlet...
announced that they were developing a television series based on the film. David Hayter
David Hayter
David Hayter is a Canadian-American voice and screen actor and screenwriter. He is best known for providing the English voices of Solid Snake and Big Boss in the Metal Gear video game series, and for writing the screenplay for X-Men and co-writing the screenplay for The Scorpion King and X2...
will write the pilot and will executive produce with Dark Hero Studios partner Benedict Carver. It is unknown if the actors and actresses from the original film will reprise their roles.
Soundtrack and score
No official soundtrack has been released, although the full score is available to stream online on the official Neil DavidgeNeil Davidge
Neil Davidge, , is a record producer, songwriter, film score composer, musician and occasional backing vocalist. Once an associate of dance producers, DNA, he is best known as the long-term co-writer, producer and key sonic facilitator for the music production outfit Massive Attack...
website.
| Artist | Title |
|---|---|
| The Kills The Kills The Kills is a rock band formed by American singer Alison Mosshart and British guitarist Jamie Hince . Their first three albums, Keep On Your Mean Side, No Wow, and Midnight Boom, have garnered much critical praise... |
What New York Used to Be |
| Yin Xiangjie | The Love Of Boat Trackers |
| Radio Citizen and Bajka | The Hop |
| Working for a Nuclear Free City Working for a Nuclear Free City Working for a Nuclear Free City is a band from Manchester, England.-History:Original members Phil Kay and Gary McClure formed as a studio entity in 1999; WFANFC began performing live in 2004, after adding drummer Jon Kay and bassist Ed Hulme to the group... |
Rocket |
| Neil Davidge | Original music for Push |
| UNKLE UNKLE Unkle are a British musical outfit founded in 1994 by school friends James Lavelle and Tim Goldsworthy. Originally categorized as trip-hop, the group once included producer DJ Shadow and have employed a variety of guest artists and producers.-First incarnation :Lavelle and Goldsworthy were joined... |
Glow |
| Daniele Benatie and Fernando Paterlini | Everybody Ciao |
| South Rakkas Crew | Elevator China |
| The Notwist The Notwist The Notwist are a German indie rock band. Formed in 1989, the band moved through several musical incarnations despite maintaining a relatively stable lineup... |
Consequence |
| South Rakkas Crew | China Funk |
| The Old Ceremony The Old Ceremony The Old Ćeremony is a Chapel Hill, North Carolina pop-noir musical group fronted by Django Haskins. Formed in 2004, the group has released four full-length albums, Our One Mistake, on sonaBLAST! Records; and The Old Ceremony, Walk On Thin Air, and Tender Age on the Durham, NC label, Alyosha Records... |
Bao Qian |
| Jiang Xianwei | A Visit to Suzhou |
See also
- Stargate ProjectStargate ProjectThe Stargate Project was the umbrella code name of one of several sub-projects established by the U.S. Federal Government to investigate claims of psychic phenomena with potential military and domestic applications, particularly "remote viewing": the purported ability to psychically "see" events,...
- the real U.S. Federal Government project to investigate psychic phenomena, used as a basis for the film.
External links
- Push at ReelSoundtrack