Vantage Point

VANTAGE POINT (2008) - Feb. 20, 2008
About an assassination attempt on the President told from several different points of view, this film featured a second half which was much better than the first. The first half, in which the action is constantly being rewound (literally rewound) so that the story can be told from a different point of view, feels a bit more gimmicky than anything else. The film becomes much more involving when it abandons this and becomes more conventional. The film's other big problem is Pete Travis' direction, which is mediocre, for the most part. Most of the action scenes suffer from the usual quick-cut/shaky-cam laziness, though there is a lengthy car chase towards the end which is surprisingly exciting. The film also feels like it was clearly watered-down for a PG-13 rating, which is unfortunate. The performances are all quite good, though Matthew Fox is less-than-convincing when he tries to speak Spanish. (Also: I've heard this film described as being Rashomon-like. Anyone who still compares it to Rashomon after seeing it deserves to be punched in the nose). **1/2