Watch Pushing Tin

Pushing Tin is a 1999 comedy-drama film starring John Cusack, Billy Bob Thornton, and Cate Blanchett. The film is directed by Mike Newell and written by Glen Charles, Les Charles, and Darcy Frey, based on Frey's article "Something's Got to Give" for The New Yorker. The story takes place in the stressful and fast-paced world of air traffic control, where Nick Falzone (John Cusack) is a renowned and skilled controller working at New York City's busy Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON). Nick's job is demanding and challenging, but he handles the pressure well, having a reputation as a "master of the skies."

Things start to change when another highly skilled controller named Russell Bell (Billy Bob Thornton) joins TRACON. Russell is equally good at his job, but unlike Nick, he remains calm and collected under pressure. Nick feels threatened by him, and their rivalry soon turns into a personal competition.

As Nick and Russell engage in a battle of wits and ego, their behavior becomes more erratic and dangerous, posing a risk to the safety of the planes they are responsible for directing. To make things even more complicated, Nick's wife, Connie (Cate Blanchett), starts to show an interest in Russell, adding a tense air of romantic rivalry to the mix.

The film is an intense exploration of male rivalry, ego, and the psychological toll of high-stress jobs. The characters of Nick and Russell are expertly portrayed by Cusack and Thornton, respectively, with Blanchett injecting her customary poise and sensitivity into the role of Nick's wife.

The plot of Pushing Tin is set against the backdrop of the highly stressful world of air traffic control, and the film takes full advantage of the opportunities offered by this fascinating environment. The settings are beautifully constructed, with the cacophony of voices and alarms making the viewer feel as if they are in the control tower alongside the characters.

Pushing Tin is a well-crafted film, balancing the serious psychological elements with moments of levity and humor, making it a highly enjoyable viewing experience. It offers a thrilling and thought-provoking insight into the world of air traffic controllers, and the enormous pressure they contend with each day.

Overall, Pushing Tin is a gripping, original, and highly entertaining film with strong performances by its lead actors. The complexity of the relationships between the characters offers a unique take on the competitive and high-stakes world of air traffic control, making it a highly recommended movie for anyone looking for a tense and engaging drama.

Pushing Tin is a 1999 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 59 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.0 and a MetaScore of 47.