John Cusack plays Nick "no-fly-zone" Falzone, the top gun of controllers in one of the busiest centres in the world. He lives and works in an idiosyncratic world where multiple marriages and nervous breakdowns are the rule. Into this world comes a part Chocktaw hot shot Russell Bell (Billy Bob Thornton) with a very young wife Mary (Angelina Jolie) and the dubious distinction of standing under a jet take off so that he could 'experience' turbulence.

The guilt and competition take their toll on Falzone and he must hit bottom and face losing everything before he can achieve redemption.

Pretty standard stuff, but well paced, interesting, informative, and peopled with three-dimensional characters.

Like anything else with John Cusack: well worth the time.

John Cusack and Cate Blanchett in Pushing Tin

"You land a million planes safely, then you have one little mid-air and you never hear the end of it": Air Traffic Controller New York Tracon.