Cusack plays Nick Falzone, an air traffic controller. He is in a heated competition with Billy-Bob Thornton's Russel. Have you ever met another person and there is this weird undercurrent of rivalry between the two of you? This is the case for Nick and Russel. They compete over who's the best at the job and who is the best with the women, or any single any other thing it's possible to square off against.

It's a treat to watch these two duke it out. Russel is confident and impulsive. He takes dangerous risks because he has so much faith in himself. Conversely, Nick is the other end of the spectrum. He is indecisive and unsure of himself. It's enjoyable to watch Nick sweat out whatever challenge Russel has thrown his way.

Once Nick beds the wife of Russel (played by a perceptive Angelina Jolie), things change. Russel breaks out the big guns; the danger escalates to a place where nothing seems to work out as it was intended. Things get odd.

Cusack plays this character with the fierce intensity and razor-sharp understanding that is characteristic of him. One key ingredient that adds to the movie's enjoyment factor is the heightened chemistry between the two actors. They are inherently a great team to watch together and I'll look for the coupling of the two in future projects.