Gerald Wright's Movie Coverage
VANTAGE POINT
Directed by: Pete Travis
Running time: 90 minutes
Release date: February 22, 2008
Genre: Drama, Suspense/Thriller and Action
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
MPAA Rating: PG-13
In this riveting nonstop action packed film, witnesses with eight different points of view try to unravel an assassination attempt on a President of the United States. Unlike prior movies in this genre, such as, The Shooter (2007) and Hitman (2007), this film is dependent on the expertise of the audience to determine if and when an attempt could and would be made. Vantage Point draws the viewer in and allows the viewer to see through the eyes of the participating characters.
Secret Service Special Agents Thomas Barnes (Dennis Quaid) and Kent Taylor (Matthew Fox) are assigned to protect U.S. President Ashton (William Hurt) during a summit in Spain on the war on terror. Moments after the Commander in Chief's arrival, shots are fired and President is injured. In the mist of chaos and panic, an American tourist Howard Lewis (Forest Whitaker) comes forward with his camcorder, which he believes contains an image of the shooter.
Meanwhile, millions of global viewers are watching TV as this tragic event is reported by a television reporter Angie Jones (Zoe Saldana) and producer Rex Brooks (Signourney Weaver). While this news coverage is taking place, bombs go off killing many people watching in the crowded outdoor plaza in Spain.
The other main characters in this puzzle are Javier (Edgar Ramirez) who is a member of the terrorist cell, Veronica (Ayelet Zurer) a fake local paramedic, Suarez (Said Taghmaoui) a possible terrorist with criminal antecedents and a little Spanish girl named Anna (Alicia Zapien). I have listed more than eight characters, but only eight of these players' view will be examined. It's up to you, the audience, to fit the pieces of the puzzle together.
Vantage Point is innovative in that all the different stories in this film are necessary. Every story reveals another plot. Watching these stories unfold almost feels as if you're watching another movie, until finally the last scenes of the film fit all the parts of the puzzle together. Throughout the entire film, I was kept on the edge of my seat. I felt if I missed one small clue or scene, I would miss out on putting all of the plot together. And it's true, the viewer really can't afford to miss a scene or clue. From the clever "who done it" scenarios, to the incredibly impressive car chase scenes, the cinematography is a participant and even a character in the plot. The different camera shots of the scattering crowds after the shootings and bombings, gave me a very different understanding of the same crucial scene.
What is so masterful about this film is that the multiple points of view lead to excitement and chaos; however, the individual viewer can draw a conclusion from these scenes and make a decision on what took place. The plot of Vantage Point concerns itself with the extremely serious subject of an apparent assassination and bombings, and the players turn in a great deal of fine performances. Dennis Quaid's performance is a gripping and intelligent portrayal of a man blindly trusting his partner. Forest Whitaker's unique ability to take a mild mannered man and project him as a hero is brilliant. Sigourney Weaver, William Hurt, Richard T. Jones, young Alicia Zapien (and even the background crowds) all give magnificent performances which make this movie excel.
This is a must see movie.
FILM RATING (A)
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