of Pushers and Movers

Push is a science fiction thriller movie that is currently being shown in cinemas. I was fortunate enough to be able to catch it over the weekend.

A riveting action-thriller, Push burrows deep into the deadly world of psychic espionage where artificially enhanced paranormal operatives have the ability to move objects with their minds, see the future, creates new realities and kill without ever touching their victims.

Here is a synopsis:

The Division, a shadowy US government agency, is genetically transforming potential psychics into an army of psychic warriors and brutally disposing of those unwilling to participate. Nick Gant, a telekinetic or mover, has been in hiding since the Division murdered his father more than a decade earlier. He has found sanctuary in densely populated Hong Kong, a safe place on earth for fugitive psychics like him. Nick is forced out of hiding when Cassie Holmes, a 13-year-old clairvoyant or watcher who is able of seeing the future, seeks his help in finding Kira, an escaped pusher who may hold the key to ending the Division’s program. Pushers possess the most dangerous of all psychic powers – the ability to influence others’ actions by implanting thoughts in their minds.

However, Cassie’s presence soon attracts the attention of the Division’s agents, forcing Nick and Cassie to flee for their lives. With the help of a team of rogue psychics, the group of them traverses the underbelly of the city, trying to stay one step ahead of the authorities as they search for Kira. Nick, Cassie, Kira and the small group of psychics find themselves battling against Division Agents and the local Hong Kong psychics. These two groups of psychics will stop at nothing to achieve their goal.

The movie displays many aspects of Groupthink.

Groupthink is defined as:

“a mode of thinking that people engage in when they are deeply involved in a cohesive in-group, when members’ striving for unanimity override their motivation to realistically appraise alternative courses of action”

-Irving Jarvis

Symptoms of Groupthink

• Illusion of invulnerability

• Belief in group’s own morality

• Shared stereotypes

• Collective rationalization

• Self-censorship

• Illusion of unanimity

• Pressure on dissenters

• Mind-guards

In the movie Push, the shady US government agency known as the Division showcases many aspects of Groupthink. First and foremost, yhe Division is portrayed to have a strong sense of belief in its own morality. Two of the leading Division’s agents, Agent Henry Carver and Agent Victor Budarin have a similar warped sense of morality. The Division’s agents would stop at nothing to achieve their goals; even though, it means committing felonies or murdering innocent bystanders. Furthermore, they appear to believe that their actions are justified. They would utilize any means possible to secure Division’s objective. They seem to have a collective rationalization, placing Division’s agenda above anything else. The Division’s agents likewise seem to adopt shared stereotypes. The agents dress alike in the typical black suits and sunglasses. They also seem to have same personalities – cool headed, confident and cunning.

In addition, the group of rogue psychics comprising of Nick, Cassie, Kira and the others could be analyzed by Poole’s Multiple Sequence Model.

Poole’s Multiple Sequence Model suggests that groups develop three different but parallel tracks.

1. Task track

2. Topic track

3. Relationship track

In the movie, the group of psychics led by Nick, develop the different tracks at different rates. Initially, the group is banded to together for various reasons. Some came to fight the common enemy, others wanted to help out of friendship and some were only there because they were hired to. Therefore, the task and topic track progressed faster than the relationship track at the beginning.

However, through all extended periods of time spend together, the group begun to bond with Nick and Kira even entering into a personal relationship. Nevertheless, they did not manage to make much progress with their task track as they were constant pursued by Division’s agents. Thus, the group’s relationship track begun to flourish while their task track was halted.

Although it has not received much media attention, I personally feel that the movie amazing. It was criticized as being “visually flashy but hyperkinetic and convoluted”. Nevertheless, the movie intrigued me as I am a science fiction fan. The movie had stunning special effects coupled with a interesting plot. The directing was not a let down either. I liked how the movie was set in Hong Kong, an Asian setting unlike the typical western setting. I would definitely recommend Push to anyone seeking a thrill at the movies.