Vantage Point review

Bittersweet.

That's the best word to describe Vantage Point, the new thriller directed by Pete Travis.

The film is shot with a Rashomon/Reservoir Dogs-style multiple viewpoint perspective. The plot revolves around an assasination of the U.S. president by terrorists at a world peace conference. Two secret service agents(Dennis Quaid and Matthew Fox), a news crew(headed by Sigourney Weaver), the terrorists, a local police officer, the president(William Hurt), and a tourist(Forest Whitaker) all have their perspectives shown as the labyrinthine plot unveils itself.

The way the film is shot pretty much guarantees a bittersweet experience. The basic plot unfolds by one perspective. When that perspective is done, the movie literally rewinds(select scenes, not the whole movie) and starts over at the beginning from another viewpoint. It even flashes 12 o'clock so you know what time it is. The problem is, this happens four times. By the third, it's funny; by the fourth, tedious.

It is entertaining, though. And that is the positive. It is very thrilling. It isn't boring, and it accomplishes its job very very well. You are actually involved with how the plot is going to unfold. The twists, for the most part, are very good. There is a very good car chase near the end of the film.

Unfortunately, the rest of the movie is meh. The acting is serviceable, the score decent, the characters pretty much stock and cliche. The plot devices are occasionally manipulative, and overall it's a very shallow, superficial experience.

There is one particular twist that is totally ruined by the trailer, and the ending is completely and totally unbelievable.

It's a good rental, but I wouldn't see it in the theater unless you are a die hard political thriller fan. It really had a lot of potential, but a keen eye can spot the cliche and shallowness in this otherwise engaging movie.

69/100