Producers: Alex Kurtzman Roberto Orci Patrick Crowley

Director: D.J. Caruso

Story: Dan McDermott

Stars: Shia LaBeouf, Michelle Monaghan, Rosario Dawson, Michael Chiklis, Anthony Mackie and Billy Bob Thornton

CREATIVE QUOTIENT
Rachel Holloman (Michelle Monaghan), a single parent is sending her son off to Washington with the school band to play at a gala evening in front of the President of United States. Jerry Shaw (Shia LaBeouf) a college drop-out attends his distinguished twin brother’s funeral. Later he discovers his bank account credited with a huge amount of money. Soon Jerry Shaw and Rachel Holloman are thrown together by a mysterious ‘phone call’ from a woman they have never met; and we never will meet. Holding the proverbial Damocles’’ sword over Rachel’s head by way of her little son, the voice pushes Jerry and Rachel into a series of dangerous, but implausible situations - using everyday life technology, viz cellphones, billboards and tracks and controls every move. Soon the duo become the country’s most wanted fugitives. They have to work together to discover what is really happening. The plot to assassinate the US President involves Rachel’s little son whose trumpet while playing the National Anthem will activate a bomb. Hitchcock used Beethoven’s 5th Symphony to cover up the assassin’s bullet. Implausibility and action are the operative components of the film. The key action scene is when the two make the getaway in high-tech baggage conveyor belts. The climax is vapid.

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE
Screenwriter Dan McDermott wrote the original script based on an original idea by Steven Spielberg. McDermott’s script was rewritten by screenwriters John Glenn, Travis Wright and Hillary Seitz in preparation for production. The story was originally conceived in 1996 . But by the time the film came to fruition 12 years later, according to D J Caruso, “the technology had finally caught up to the storytelling. ... Everybody has a BlackBerry or an iPhone on their belt, and we think we’re constantly being tracked. It’s less science fiction than when Steven (Spielberg) conceived it.” Hence, the real star of the film is technology. There wasn’t much left for the director to do, maybe some cyber voice has taken over; also the script has done it all. None of actors who are always on the run can be rated on performances. Despite the driving action sequences, the film slows down and gets stodgy.