Quartile rating: 6/10 · 1 rating
Two air traffic controllers who thrive on living dangerously compete to outdo each other on several levels.
Pushing Tin occupies a curious niche — a workplace dramedy set in the high-stress world of air traffic control, which gives it modest novelty. The cast (John Cusack, Billy Bob Thornton, Cate Blanchett, Angelina Jolie) is strong and elevates material that is otherwise uneven. The plot meanders into soap-opera territory with the wife-swapping subplot, losing focus on what made the premise interesting. Cinematography is functional but unremarkable. The ending feels rushed and unearned, wrapping up the rivalry and personal crises too neatly. Thornton's eccentric, zen-cowboy performance is the film's genuine highlight.