Vantage Point

Aroview: Tipsy, time-swapping political thriller cribs liberally from RASHOMON and TV-terrorist heart-stopper 24 in congealing multiple ‘vantage points’ to an assassination attempt on the United States president.

Aiming for a post 9/11 discord, dir. Travers loads the narrative with far-fetched conspiracies, shifting perspectives, and short-lived truths, ushering the viewer through a series of plot reveals, car chases, and run-and-gun action seqences, all achieved with unspectacular efficiency. While the diverse casting offers some respite as the likes of Whitaker (tourist), Quaid (secret service agent) and Weaver (TV news director) vie for attention, the end result – despite the promise of a multifaceted outcome – is strictly cut and dry.