The painfully inscrutable paranormal thriller "Push" introduces us to a host of characters with various gifts. Some can see the future, some can heal, some can plant ideas, some can make change for a dollar.

By the times the credits roll, your most fervent wish is to run into a "wiper" (one who can erase memories) after stumbling into the lobby. That or a telepath who could convince you that you just watched "Slumdog Millionaire" instead.

We are told in a windy, opening-credits prologue that psychic experiments started by those darned Nazis are now being continued by the U.S. government (add another item to Obama's to-do list) in order to create some kind of super-freaky-powerful army or else transform toxic waste into a mountain of jelly beans.

Like a lot of things in David Bourla's script, it's left unclear, as are the rules of engagement once the philanthropic-minded telepaths battle the evil mind-benders bent on world domination.

What we do know with reasonable certainty is that telekinetic Nick Gant (Chris Evans) and clairvoyant Cassie (Dakota Fanning) must recover a powerful experimental drug in the jam-packed streets of Hong Kong before Division Agent Henry Carver (Djimon Hounsou) gets his hands on it. Thought-pusher Kira (Camilla Belle) took the serum and actually lived, which means she either has a strong constitution or ... what?

Maybe the answer lies in the Bermuda Triangle, containing the footage that seems to have been abruptly cut from the movie.

The film's 111-minute running time is 10 minutes shorter than the length listed in the press notes. To which the only reasonable response is to say: Thanks!

Director Paul McGuigan ("Lucky Number Slevin") has never been keen on plot logic, and that might be fine here if he offered anything other than Peter Sova's lush images of Hong Kong. Concepts are introduced and immediately abandoned. When Nick devises the inspired idea for his band of harried pranksters to behave illogically to throw the "watchers" off their scent, it'd be nice for a little wackiness to ensue instead of simply another inert action sequence. (Hats off, though, for the scene in which Evans threatens Hounsou with levitating revolvers. Sometimes the best effects are also the cheesiest.)

Fanning, apparently bummed at missing the audition for "Bratz: The Movie," wanders around in a miniskirt and rainbow-colored hair, hurling the occasional profanity and looking decidedly lost. When Cassie downs a fifth of whiskey to see the future more clearly (and haven't we all done that?), Fanning turns into a mean cutie-pie drunk, demonstrating such a complete lack of firsthand knowledge that you can only salute her parents for a job well done.

Now they just need to take better care of her career.

Push MPAA rating: PG-13 (for intense sequences of action, intense sequences of violence, smoking and teen drinking).

Running time: 1:51.

Starring: Chris Evans (Nick); Dakota Fanning (Cassie); Camilla Belle (Kira); Djimon Hounsou (Henry Carver).

Directed by Paul McGuigan; screenplay by David Bourla; edited by Nicolas Trembasiewicz; photographed by Peter Sova; production design by Francois Seguin; music by Neil Davidge; produced by Glenn Williamson, Bruce Davey and William Vince. A Summit Entertainment release.

"Slumdog Millionaire" Leads the Way
81st Academy Award Oscar Winners 2009

In much the same manner that the film captured the hearts of movie-goers, "Slumdog Millionaire" captured the hearts and votes of the Academy garnering 8 Oscars in total, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Sean Penn won his second Best Actor Academy Award for his role as Harvey Milk in the movie "Milk," while Kate Winslett won her first Oscar in the Best Actress category for he role as Hanna Schmitz in "The Reader."

Heath Ledger won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role as the Joker in "The Dark Knight," posthumously. Ledger died on January 22, 2008 after an accidental drug overdose. Penelope Cruz won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role as Elena Maria in "Vicky Christina Barcelona."

"WALL-E" took home the Oscar for Best Animated Feature:

This year's top Academy Awards nominated film, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" with 13 Oscar nominations, won 3 Oscars (Achievement in Art Direction, Makeup & Visual Effects).

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