The President of the United States (William Hurt) is shot and the incident is told from different points of view.  The most interesting of these is TV producer Rex Brooks (Sigourney Weaver) whose comments are relevant and illustrate the conflicting personal and corporate goals of news casting.  The worst belongs to American tourist Howard Lewis (Forest Whitaker – not his fault here but the script’s), whining most of the time for the reason that he is separated from his son who he loves so much.  With the stories of the secret agents (Mathew Fox and Dennis Quaid) and a few questionable locals blended in, the mystery is solved with a car chase and shoot-out at the end.

There are many ways to tell a story in film.  In VANTAGE POINT, director Travis replays his film every 10 minutes or so from the few seconds before the President’s assassination.  Instead of cross-cutting the five segments with the story told in linear chronological order, Travis tells his story in five somewhat repeated segments.  Whether this device works is arguable.  For one, the audience has to sit through similar sequences a number of times – which could get annoying.  On the other hand, because the action concentrates on one principle character, the suspense and tension is heightened.  When the film rewinds back, the mood of anticipation (though a bit of irritation for some) is created.  Whatever effect, one has to give the filmmakers credit for trying this method of executing an action flick.  This device has been used in films before, the most effective, I believe in the 2001 Brit flick LAWLESS HEART and of course, RASHOMON with intersecting stories.

For all its flaws, one cannot complain that VANTAGE POINT is boring.  For one, it boasts an impressive cast that includes Sigourney Weaver and Dennis Quaid who excel in their performances despite the material.  Good to see too is Spanish heart-throb Eduardo Noriega (BURNT MONEY and THE DEVIL’S BACKBONE) playing the local cop caught in the assassination backfire.

VANTAGE POINT is well edited with the climatic chase generating enough tension despite the numerous coincidences.  Barry Levy’s script tends to be on the sappy side - terrorist looking after brother; tourist mooning after son; mother after lost daughter – which gets more ridiculous towards the end.  Still, for an action packed flick, VANTAGE POINT delivers the goods similar to a Michael Bay blockbuster.  In other words, do not expect too much.