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The amusing competiveness of two very different air traffic controllers (Billy Bob Thornton and John Cusack)

posted 5 months ago by Wuchak (8732)
3 replies | jump to latest

This is a quirky drama with a healthy sense of humor and potent adult-oriented themes revolving around love, sex and loyalty. The high stress nature of the occupation is emphasized while amusing the viewer in an offbeat way and driving home some insights on the broken human condition and glorious potential.

A youthful Cate Blanchett plays Nick's stay-at-home wife, Connie. She was 29 years-old during shooting. Meanwhile Angelina Jolie plays Russell's much-younger wife, Mary, who has alcohol issues; she was 23 playing a 21 year-old. Whist Jolie is made out to be the hottie, and she is alluring, it's Blanchett who steals the show on that meter IMHO. Petite Vicki Lewis is also on hand as the lone female air traffic controller; she was 38 during filming.

It runs 2 hours, 4 minutes, and was shot in the Toronto area, with some scenes in New Jersey/New York City, Minnesota and Victorville, California.

[–] BeaSouth (3282) 5 months ago

Thanks for this good and interesting post. It’s been years since I saw this movie and I don’t remember it but I do recall the feeling that it was a very quirky movie. Am I remembering correctly that it did involve an airplane accident or near miss that caused one of the controllers a nervous breakdown or am I confusing that from another film? Anyway, thanks for the reminder on this one. I’ll go back and re-watch

[–] Wuchak (8732) 5 months ago

Something along the lines of the second one. I don't want to say more and spoil it.

[–] Sudip (57) 4 months ago

Yeah, it was a good, enjoyable movie with a mix of drama, light and dark humour, and interesting characters. I rewatched it yesterday after a long long time and thoroughly enjoyed it. In the mid-late 90s, John Cusack made some quirky and interesting movies, like Pushing Tin, Grosse Point Blank, Being John Malkovich, etc. Great stuff.