March 4th, 2008 By Robyn Oglesby
Movie Review: Vantage Point
Because of the nature of Vantage Point, it’s hard to describe the film without giving too many details away. However, I will do my best.
The basic plot is that the President of the United States, played by William Hurt, is giving a speech to a public forum in Spain at a summit to stop the war on terror. Right when he is stepping up to the microphone, he is shot and scrambled off in an ambulance. The story is told through the perspectives of several eye witnesses of the shooting: a regular citizen, a local policeman, a secret service agent, a news producer, and a terrorist.
If you’re not used to seeing a disjointed story-line, like on the TV show LOST, Vantage Point may be a little jarring to you. The five points of view from the five main characters are told separately. The way each character sees the action played out is shown and when one point of view is played out, time resets itself and you see another character’s point of view. I find this mode of story-telling interesting and stimulating. As a viewer, you’re never sure which direction the plot will go.
Vantage Point is the big screen debut for director, Pete Travis and writier, Barry Levy. A stellar cast headed up by Oscar winner, Forest Whitaker and LOST star, Matthew Fox, pull off this head-spinning, whirlwind mystery. I firmly believe that if the cast hadn’t been so talented, that this movie would have completely tanked.
Vantage Point was a little predictable, but while I was able to figure certain things out, I wasn’t sure how the entire plot would tie together. I also liked the fact that even though part of the plot revolved around terrorism, it didn’t feel like a public service announcement or like the film had a political agenda to fill.
My only real problems with this film are that parts of it were too predictable, they didn’t completely explain the villains’ intentions and for the most part it was a believable plot, until they got to the car chase scene. Even though I had those issues with the movie, I wasn’t too distracted to not enjoy the movie.
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zrx1200r
March 04, 2008 @ 11:38AM
if you like multiple-perspective narratives, check out the independent movie “11:14.” intriguing and realistic plot; great acting (hillary swank, a fat patrick swayze); jaw-dropping, tense scenes.
Robyn
March 04, 2008 @ 12:16PM
Thanks for the suggestion! I am actually a BIG fan of different perspectives. So, I’ll definitely check it out.
ch
March 04, 2008 @ 03:54PM
Thanks for the suggestions! ((I’m hooked on LOST and now have two new movies to watch!!))
zrx1200r
March 05, 2008 @ 08:58AM
another multiple-perspective move: “The Dead Girl.”
stunningly powerful…but it will leave you depressed.
Brian
March 05, 2008 @ 06:25PM
Personally, this movie was a great idea on paper, and I was really interested in seeing it when I first saw the preview. Though the beginning of the movie really falls short of where I had the bar placed. First half should be titled the same 7 minutes over with 2 added to the beginning. At one point I looked to the person that went with me and said, “They are really doing this again aren’t they?” And I agree with the review saying I was lost as far as intentions of the movies villans, though that could have drug the movie out another, truthly pointless hour. Wasn’t a terribly movie by any means just the beginning became redundant and could have been thought out better in actuality rather than theory.