Plot: What’s it about?
Jack Harris (Kiefer Sutherland) was the best at what he did, no one could touch him when the clock was running. Harris was an air traffic controller, and he could land and move plans like no one else could. His skills as a controller were in fine form, when an equipment malfunction cost him everything he had, in both personal and professional terms. While he was lining some planes up in routine fashion, a problem with a plane caused it to spiral down to the surface, killing all those on board. This was not Harris’ fault, but the accident took everything out of him, and he left the business behind, with a bad reputation thanks to rumors and word of mouth. Some years later though, he would find himself drawn back into the world that had once left him broken and beaten, but can he overcome the fears of the past, and return to his mastering of the skies? Harris is called upon to do the impossible, he needs to land dozens of planes, with thousands of lives on them, with no radar and no contact. If anyone can complete the task, Harris can. But can even he pull this one off?
Right off the bat, this is not a Pushing Tin clone, so don’t expect a similar type film. Where Pushing Tin is a dark comedy, this is a tension sparked drama, so know which type of film you want before you leave the video store. I was drawn to this film by the trailer, but I had very low expectations as far as the movie itself. After the credits had rolled, I found myself surprised at how good the movie turned out to be. Now, this isn’t a classic by any means, but for what it is, a low budget low profile film, Ground Control is more than worth the time needed to view it. The writing is tense and well crafted, which creates some excellent atmosphere, which only gets better as the films nears the climax. If you’re looking for a decent drama to take up to the rental counter, this movie would make an excellent choice.
This film was directed by Richard Howard, and as far as I know, his only motion picture endeavor. While this isn’t the finest film available, I feel Howard has made a wonderful movie, on an obviously low budget. For a low profile film, Ground Control sports a well balanced cast, including some fairly large names. Kiefer Sutherland takes the lead and runs with it, giving a subtle yet powerful performance. Sutherland (Dark City, Flatliners) doesn’t take many normal roles lately, opting for the more unusual parts, but he does a fine job with this character, and carries his share of the movie without a hitch. Others turning in above the call of the material performances include Kelly McGillis (North, At First Sight), Bruce McGill (Lawn Dogs, The Insider), Robert Sean Leonard (The Last Days Of Disco, The Age Of Innocence), and Kristy Swanson (Buffy The Vampire Slayer, The Chase). The supporting cast is quite good also, one of the better casts I’ve seen on a low profile flick like this. Michael Gross (Tremors, Tremors 2: Aftershocks), Charles Fleischer (Dick Tracy, Permanent Midnight), Margaret Cho (Face/Off, The Doom Generation), and even the Fonz himself, Henry Winkler (The Waterboy, The Lords Of Flatbush) all appear in supporting roles here.
Video: How does it look?
Ground Control is presented in a full frame transfer, which seems to be an open matte, although I am not sure. The colors appear bright and full, and flesh tones are natural and consistent. Contrast tends to be a little dark, but to the degree of detail obscuring, so relax. Given the nature and origins of this film, the image looks excellent.
Audio: How does it sound?
The stereo track is more than adequate, since the film relies on dialogue and beeps for the most part. Some scenes would sound great with a full surround track, but overall this one gets the job done. The dialogue is sharp and clear, and no other elements become lost in the equation.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This release contains the trailer for this film, as well as a bonus trailer for Cube, and some talent files.
