VANTAGE POINT (2008)

Verdict: Oh hell no.


The film Vantage Point promises lots of suspense and scandal when a terrorist plot against the acting American president on a diplomatic visit to Spain is viewed from eight perspectives and turns into a major shoot out, car chase, and explosion-bonanza, complete with good ‘ol American-bashing and Mathew Fox expelling silly Spanish dialog. Actions junkies out there will be satisfied. Unfortunately, the film doesn’t offer much else, especially any reward for sitting through eight individual storylines (the viewpoints of eight characters who play a role in the plot, taken one after another, in mime of the Japanese classic Roshamon) besides a good fit of the giggles and some resentment.

This first major feature for director Pete Travis pretty much blows it. The film may claim eight perspectives but not one that’s new, unique, or intelligent, and collectively misses any commentary on the plot of global terror—despite it’s real-life implications. I think of stereotype-changing films like Crash or Paradise Now and I cringe at this movie's box office numbers. Okay, perhaps Vantage Point is meant to be nothing more than an exciting plot that takes place in a contemporary climate. In that case, give me one linear storyline rather than eight useless character perspectives and save me the pretext and the trouble.

Not only were the perspectives ineffectual but also the formula for getting from one to the next was exhausting. Each point of view begins with a dramatic rewind montage (think intro to Battlestar Galactica) to return us again to the pre-bombing-and-shooting minute of twelve hundred hours. From the first rewind, the audience collectively understood that it was destined to see the whole day’s events again but with someone new… and seven more times. Everyone laughed. And laughed. And laughed (times seven).

Then there’s the flat-out offensive. The viewpoint is of the Moroccan terrorist mastermind to me argued an attempt at some complexity in the film beyond an average American action... OR, an outlet to deliver some shocking and evil dialog to viewers haunted by Axis of Evils and über-terrorists. He gives a line, “Just like American arrogance to think they’re always one step ahead,” minutes before the death and carnage about to take place (which we’ve already seen twice). The two taken together and delivered by a shallow character who shoots a president and detonates a bomb from his mobile phone lost what little commentary could be found in those words and turned them into pure abomination, and even I—open minded as I am—squirmed in my seat.

In the end, the hero (Dennis Quaid, as the honorable Secret Service Agent) saves the day not because of some meaningful resolution but because a little girl runs into the street and the villains are thwarted. (“Mr. President…I’ve got you,” declares Mr. Quaid as the audience snickers.)

The aftertaste is worst of all. In our social climate, where the media has a great affect on a public filled with fears and threats, everyone could stand more intelligent discussion of complicated issues. Maybe then the guy in the audience, who, after the terrifying explosion goes off again, may not have blurted out, “And we want to elect a woman president?”

Proof that Vantage Point will not change any stereotypes, and worse, might amplify them.