Vantage Point and Lost (they can’t be separated)
On the weekend I watched Vantage Point starring Mathew Fox (and others). Reminiscent of Oceans Eleven and Inside Man, but with a lot more action, Vantage point was a refreshing new take on the blockbuster formula.
The basic premise is pretty standard. The US President is making a speech in Spain to open a crucial summit on terrorism. Terrorists attack, chaos ensues. The key is the way it’s executed. In a major departure from the standard box office formula you see the same set of events repeated many times from a different persons point of view each time. Somehow this doesn’t get too repetitive.
The plot is consists of many parts to a master plan, all precariously intertwined. There are also several subplots that add another layer to the film. In plot, the film is similar to lost in that the many aspects are all related. The difference is that you don’t have to wait long for answers.
To me, weak characters prevented Vantage Point from being amazing. Although I chose sides I wasn’t attracted to any of the characters. There aren’t any really strong characters to match those of George Clooney (Oceans 11) and Clive Owen (Inside Man). Mathew Fox was good, but not great. We see so many action heros in urban settings these days and he just doesn’t stand out.
I’m hardly an expert at rating films but I’d give Vantage Point a 4 out of 5. Watch it and judge for yourself.
More importantly, Mathew Fox also plays Jack in Lost which returned to TV2 last night. Finally we’re getting some answers! Vantage Point is good but season four of Lost is amazing (insert many exclamation marks here in true Bebo style).
