Flight (I) (2012) User Reviews

Surprised

[Kuriente · 8/10 · 14 July 2014]

I am an aircraft mechanic, so admittedly I have trouble watching a movie which will undoubtedly abuse reality in terms of physics and aircraft design. I recall seeing previews for this and being stunned at the laughable scenario of an inverted passenger plane. That experience dropped my expectation to essentially zero.

When I watched this film I was surprised in two ways. Firstly, the scenario was more plausible than I had given it credit. Inverted flight is a problem for most planes because of aerodynamics. And while some aircraft are aerodynamically capable of inverted flight (even some passenger planes) it is additionally a problem because hydraulic and engine oil systems are often gravity fed. This means that if a plane is able to fly this way, most of them won't fly for long before systems begin to fail. The film did a reasonable job of portraying this as the plane was just barely able to sustain level flight with a full pitch down elevator position and displayed low engine oil press warnings which led to engine fire. I suspect the roll maneuver would require more altitude than the film suggests...but otherwise it's not far from what could happen in reality if this was actually attempted. Most engine fire T-handles are designed to instantly shut fuel and bleed air valves for an engine...which doesn't seem to happen here, but that was my biggest realism gripe.

My second surprise is that this movie has very little to do with aviation. Aviation seems to be the setting for the story, but the subject itself is substance abuse. The story could have just as easily been set around a bus driver or a ship captain. Given the fact that aviation was merely a setting for the story I have to give credit to the film makers for paying at least some attention to realism.

I thought the story was fascinating. It's the sort of film that requires something of the viewer. You can't watch this without making moral judgements and that process requires each viewer to evaluate how they feel about certain subjects. The story creates just enough moral dilemma to get people thinking and any story that can succeed in that gets a pass from me.

Can a man be both hero and criminal?

[atlasmb · 8/10 · 4 September 2014]

Trailers might lead you to believe this is a film about flying. Or about an amazing flying feat. But it is all about the lead character, Captain "Whip" Whitaker (Denzel Washington), a man who is a pilot and an alcoholic. The flying and a terrible crash provide background for the story of this man, who has struggled with his illness for years.

In many ways the story is not that original. We have seen numerous stories about alcoholics and heard real-life testimonies of the behaviors that accompany alcoholism, and this film tracks with all of them.

It is worth seeing for the brilliant portrayal of Captain Whitaker and the performances of the other actors in the film. Some parts are difficult to watch because the acting is so engaging.

I also think the film raises some interesting questions that some viewers may not be willing to acknowledge. If one is an alcoholic, is the entire worth of that man nothing more than what his sickness drags him down to? Are we what we do? Can we rise above our neuroses or our worst behaviors? Often we see public figures condemned in media for indiscretions or harmful acts; is that, then, the measure of the man or woman?

The film, even if judged solely for its dramatic content, is worth seeing.

Incredible Film

[jlthornb51 · 9/10 · 17 April 2015]

Washington gives what is nothing less than a performance of a lifetime in this tension filled film dealing with a pilot wrestling with inner demons. The aviation sequences are stunning and the crash one of the most breathtaking ever filmed. The director is highly gifted and his skill and passion are clearly evident. The script is superb, with intelligent plotting and sharp dialog that captures reality. It is, once again, Washington who shines here above all else. His power as an actor is what truly gives this movies its fire. His portrayal of a substance abusing addict/alcoholic is painful to watch because of the humanity he brings to the part. It is a tremendous accomplishment and one of the finest studies of addiction ever filmed.

The question this movie poses is what it's about

[view_and_review · 7/10 · 20 January 2022]

"Flight" hinges on one question, but before I get to the question we have to set the stage.

Captain William "Whip" Whitaker (Denzel Washington), a commercial pilot, spent a night of boozing, snorting, and sex with a flight attendant. The next morning he had a flight out of Florida to Atlanta with a manifest of 102 persons. The weather was extremely rough upon take off, but not enough to ground the flight. Whip deftly maneuvered through the storm then the flight was relatively smooth after that, so Whip slept. Somewhere over Georgia the plane experienced mechanical problems and went into a nose dive. With the utmost calmness Whip pulled yet one more set of maneuvers to land the plane with minimal loss of life. Six people did die, but it could've been so much worse.

Whip's lawyer, Hugh Lang (Don Cheadle), did some maneuvering of his own and had Whip's toxicology report suppressed. The NTSB, after an extensive investigation, found that Whip performed outstandingly. They attempted with simulators to have other experienced pilots land Flight 227 and they all failed. Whip was a hero. So then, here's the question:

Was Captain Whitaker's inebriated state a matter of importance with him flying that day?

Whip was an incorrigible drunk, but a functional one after a few lines of cocaine. His problem ruined his marriage, his relationship with his son, and was threatening his freedom. It was an unshakable factor throughout the movie and one that would cause you to shake your head in pity as well as embarrassment for him.

What makes "Flight" a good movie is the question I posed because how many people in society are functioning addicts or alcoholics? I just watched "Puncture" with Chris Evans who played an addict lawyer who was superb at his job as long as he was high. Such people exist.

Flight was a top tier production with awesome performances from the likes of Denzel (naturally), John Goodman, Don Cheadle, and Bruce Greenwood. The production and acting helped make the movie standout, but the plot itself and the central question it poses makes it what it is.

An Emotional Tailspin

[Bob_the_Hobo · 9/10 · 19 November 2012]

Denzel Washington is William "Whip" Whitaker, an alcoholic pilot who, after a night of heavy drinking, remains drunk well into the morning he is to fly a plane into Georgia. When his flight goes into a sudden tail- spin, Whip manages to save all but six lives through his crash-landing. Whip is a hero until his toxicology report comes up positive for everything under the sun, leaving the airline, Whip's union, his friends, and Whip in a tailspin of their own.

I have often thought that Denzel Washington is one of the finest actors to ever grace the silver screen, and he proves that assertion with a film that is assured to receive him a sixth Academy Award nomination. Here is a man broken beyond measure, stumbling through his lost life until unprecedented new stress is placed upon him. Not even the intervention of those he holds close can stop his self-destructive nature - or can it?

Robert Zemeckis has been on a sturdy path with animated films recently, so it was with a bit of apprehension that I saw his most recent live- action offering since "Cast Away". But have no fear. The direction here is clean, crisp, and efficient as ever, producing a simple, but powerful script by John Gatins, chock-full of par-none supporting roles by the likes of John Goodman, Don Cheadle, and Bruce Greenwood.

Undoubtedly the best part of the film - besides the wonderful cast - was the soundtrack. Joe Cocker, Bill Withers, and more are used expertly to mold into every emotion, sometimes emotional roller coaster, Whip experiences. Each song (some used more than once) slips seamlessly into the background and keeps the audience following more than the script.

"Flight" is a powerful, dark, character study about a man who has fallen to his darkest depths, and finds out how to fall farther. It sees Denzel Washington in top form and Robert Zemeckis' triumphant return to the live screen.

Recommended on the Basis of Denzel Washington's Performance Alone

[evanston_dad · 7/10 · 19 March 2013]

Based on the trailers for "Flight," I was expecting a investigative procedural film. Denzel Washington plays a pilot who manages to crash land a plane with a minimal loss of lives, a feat everyone agrees no other pilot could probably accomplish. But evidence that he was intoxicated while flying the plane emerges and instead of a hero who saved lives, he becomes a possible felon who caused the crash in the first place.

But the film isn't interested in the investigation. Instead, this is a film about an alcoholic and the rock-bottom journey he goes on that leads him to face his addictive demons. I've never been a huge Washington fan, but he does pretty tremendous work here. This also feels like surprisingly grown-up material for director Robert Zemeckis, who's most known for treacly stuff like "Forrest Gump." My major complaint about the film is that it's far too long. An entire subplot that gives Washington a nominal love interest in the form of a fellow addict could have been cut from the film entirely -- and a good half hour with it -- without any significant impact.

I don't know that I would heartily recommend this film for any reason other than the excellent performance of Washington.

Grade: B+

This film has about the scariest 10 minutes I have ever seen in a movie!

[planktonrules · 9/10 · 24 February 2022]

"Flight" is a film that brought Denzel Washington an Oscar nomination...something his performance richly deserved. It's a terrific performance in a terrific, yet harrowing, film.

Whip Whitaker (Washington) is an absolute mess. Although he's an airline pilot, he's an addict and boards a plane under the influence of cocaine and alcohol. He's so badly impaired that during the flight, he managed to sneak MORE alcohol into his body! Now here's the amazing part....the plane literally begins to fall apart in midair and through VERY quick thinking, he manages to crash land the plane with only minimal loss of life. When Whip awakens at the hospital, he soon learns that the press is declaring that he's a hero! This film is about his actions and the airline's and the pilot union's following the crash.

The scene where the plane begins to fall apart and crashes is about the most harrowing and adrenaline-pumping scenes you'll ever see in a film. I could actually feel my chest pounding and STRONGLY recommend anyone with a fear of flying to avoid this film!!! It's well done...and it's shocking no Oscar nominations were given to the folks who created this scene!

I appreciate Denzel Washington in this film. Not only is he very good, but he really took a risk here playing such a screwed up and self-destructive guy. This was clearly a stretch for him...and it's nice to see him do something different.

Overall, this is a really amazing film...not just because of the crash but also because it really shows addiction in all its ugliness and with great realism. Among the best of 2012...though oddly apart from Washington and one minor award, the film wasn't nominated for Best Picture nor Best Director.

UPDATE: I recently found "The Pilot" on YouTube. It's a very, very similar story starring Cliff Robertson...so similar that I have to believe the writer of "Flight" was 'inspired' by it strongly. Because it's so similar, I am amending my score for "Flight" from 10 to 9....but it's still a terrific story.

A Character Study That's Honest

[Michael_Elliott · 20 November 2012]

Flight (2012)

**** (out of 4)

Denzel Washington turns in one of the strongest performances of his career playing Walt Whitaker, a pilot who becomes an overnight hero after he saves the majority of the passengers on a doomed plane. Soon after becoming a hero Walt starts to get questioned on whether or not he was up all night partying and in fact was flying the plane drunk and soon he's forced to face himself and the events. Robert Zemeckis has certainly delivered a very entertaining, honest and depressing look at a man who seems to be good at just about everything except being honest with himself. Going into the picture I really wasn't sure what to expect but the film turned out to be great from start to finish and it's certainly one of the more honest looks at an alcoholic to come along in a while. The screenplay by John Gatins is extremely well-written and I think it deserves a lot of credit because I really appreciated the way we get to know this character. Because it's Denzel you're automatically going to want him to do good but the challenging aspects of the screenplay are so well handled by the actor and director that you really do feel like you're getting a complete character study. Zemeckis adds in some great song selections, the cinematography is top notch and there's no question that the film contains some excellent and tense drama. The Q&S session is perfectly handled and the crash sequence is one of the most chilling I've ever seen. Washington is excellent in the role of the troubled pilot as he contains that charm we all love but it also gives the actor a chance to give a full performance. He's so great at everything he does I think he often doesn't get the chance to do a role as complete as this one but he proves why he's one of the best out there. John Goodman, Don Cheadle and Kelly Reilly are all great in their supporting roles as well. You've also got to give everyone credit for not watering down the material and going for a safe and clean PG-13 rating. While there's nothing overly offensive here, the R-rating does allow for an honest and open look at this very flawed character. FLIGHT is certainly one of the years best films.

The film's a 7, but Denzel Washington is a 10

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 13 March 2013]

Denzel Washington's portrayal of a very flawed hero pilot which got him an Academy Award nomination in 2012 dominates the film Flight. All of his loved ones and all of his friends won't be able to help him with the jackpot he has himself in.

Denzel is an airline pilot who on a routine Flight from Tampa Bay to Atlanta encounters turbulence in the air and mechanical failure. He does a heroic job in bringing the plane in at all. Everyone agrees that most other pilots would have crashed with all on board dead. When he crash lands in a field only six fatalities occur. There are several injured however including our hero pilot.

But when he comes to in the hospital his toxic readings show traces of alcohol and cocaine. As we see later in the film he gets himself drunk and has developed a patented way of sobering up with a cocaine stimulant. Talk about living on the edge.

The whole airline industry from the pilots union to the airline to the FAA don't know what to do. Washington is a hero for what he did, but that addiction can't be hid. And he persists in his bad behavior.

This is one of the more complex portrayals of a character I've ever seen Washington do. In The Hurricane he's a hero who's been terribly unjustly wronged. In Training Day he gradually is revealed to be evil and corrupt. But here you don't know what to think. No doubt he's a hero, but he's also selfish and indulgent and can't even keep himself straight enough to get through a hearing on the crash. His own lawyer Don Cheadle is at his wit's end.

Melissa Leo has an interesting part as the hearing officer at the FAA, she's got a grain of toughness, but even she would like to give him the benefit of the doubt. But besides Washington, the one you will remember is John Goodman who has two memorable scenes as his drug connection for his cocaine cure.

The film Flight is a good one. But Denzel Washington might have picked up a third Oscar but for Daniel Day Lewis's Lincoln. He got more out of his role than most actors would have.

An engrossing character study

[Gordon-11 · 5 February 2013]

This film is about a brilliant but chronically intoxicated pilot who demonstrated exceptional brilliance when landing a plane after a nose dive.

"Flight" cuts to the chase right away, and shows an air disaster that looks so scary and real. After the disaster, "Flight" looks at how the pilot copes with the life change and his alcoholism. It is an interesting character study, detailing the psychological changes he goes through. The pace may be a bit slow, but we can see clearly how the pilot goes from one stage to another. The ending is a satisfying turn of events, showing how integrity rises above all. I liked watching "Flight", and with tighter editing it would have been even better.

Flight brings Denzel back to greatness!

[ClaytonDavis · 8/10 · 16 October 2012]

Robert Zemeckis' latest film Flight starring Academy Award Winner Denzel Washington is not only thoroughly entertaining and terrifically structured, it encompasses a soul that Hollywood hasn't really delivered in quite some time. The film, that closed the New York Film Festival, is simply one of the best films of the year.

Flight tells the story of Whip Whitaker, an airline pilot that saves a plane and nearly all its passengers from a certain death. When an investigation is carried out to look into the details of the crash, Whip's troubling lifestyle begins to surface. Writer John Latins creates a dynamic and an internal narrative confrontation for viewers to become immersed in a story full of mental struggle. It's a unique and very engaging story that stands as one of season's best efforts.

Denzel Washington, and not to be taken lightly, is fully in the zone and portrays one of his finest screen moments in years. I haven't been this impressed with his abilities as an actor since The Hurricane (1999). He lands solidly in Whip, giving us his natural aggression, charisma, and flaws. Allowing us to travel with Whip on this journey, Mr. Washington proves once and for all, he is one of the great treasures of American cinema. Denzel gives an access root into the character for all intended purposes, a clear understanding of the inner resistance that will not only plague Whip, but the movie audience as well.

The story doesn't seem like an obvious choice for Robert Zemeckis, who has excelled in genres that have provided masterpieces like Forrest Gump (1994) and Cast Away (2000). As the film provides a more dark and jagged approach in his directorial style, Zemeckis executes with precision. It's a satisfactory effort from the director who makes his return to live action after a long string of motion-capture efforts. Assisting Washington's bravura performance is Oscar-nominee Don Cheadle, who teamed up with Denzel in the 90's classic film, Devil in a Blue Dress (1995). As the wise-cracking lawyer, whose own moral values may be tested in exchange for corporate and criminal immunity, Cheadle is a relieved presence. In a comedic and near-brilliant performance, John Goodman steals Flight from every actor including Washington in his short, two-scene appearances. Goodman continues to show an effortless range, even in poor film choices, and a confidence that makes him one of the great character actors working today. It's a performance that Oscar should consider on multiple levels. In a heartbreaking turn, Kelly Reilly as the drug-addicted Nicole, provides an emotional epicenter and boundary that stands as one of Latins' great writing achievements. Reilly is simply marvelous.

Continuing to beef up their acting resume, the great Bruce Greenwood shines while Brian Geraghty continues to prove he is one of Hollywood's best kept secrets.

Composer Alan Silvestri orchestrates an outstanding score that is both melodic and soothing. Cinematographer Don Burgess, once-nominated for Forrest Gump, gives clean, fresh camera lenses look into a shockingly dirty and gritty story. Zemeckis' handle of the astounding opening scenes, especially the plane crash, is one of the best visual and nail- biting moments of the year. Its Zemeckis at his best!

Flight is not only one of the best cinematic efforts of the New York Film Festival; it stands as a great surprise and entry into the 2012 Oscar season. Denzel Washington is completely Oscar-bound but the buck shouldn't stop there; a deserved consideration campaign should be given to John Goodman and Kelly Reilly along with screenwriter John Latins. Flight is a home-run!

Read More Reviews at The Awards Circuit (http://www.awardscircuit.com)

The higher you fly, the more disastrous the crash

[dierregi · 7/10 · 9 March 2015]

A good, solid story about the fall from glory of an arrogant pilot. It can be seen as a metaphor of addiction. Substance abuse makes you fly high, but you lose track of your limits and people around you start to dislike your self-centered attitude. Some of those people are lost forever; others may still be around to forgive you.

The plot itself is about cocky airline pilot Whip, who manages to save most of his passengers during a disastrous flight from Orlando to Atlanta. Despite (or because) being high on cocaine, Whip successfully performs a daredevil move and lands the plane on a field. There are six casualties though and legal actions to follow.

Whip is in full denial of his addiction to cocaine and alcohol and manages to alienate everybody around him. Linked to the main story is a rather unnecessary subplot involving a female addict. Satisfactory ending.

Awesome Film. Blew away my expectations!

[BigBudde · 9/10 · 4 November 2012]

FLIGHT is a great film! In a day and age where almost all Hollywood movies try to thrill us with special effects and gore, FLIGHT 'soars' with extraordinary acting and a story that will change lives. I went not knowing really what to expect. A drama about a crashed airplane, right? Well this film is much much more. It is truth. Truth about life. Truth about addictions. Denzel Washington does an awesome, believable job as an alcoholic airplane captain, struggling with his addiction and accusations after the plane crash. John Goodman plays an interesting character and provides some laughs. Without giving too much away, I will say that if you like drama movies or Denzel, go see it. If you are, or know anyone who is struggling with an addiction of ANY KIND... go see it! It just might change your life. 9/10 A+

Flight (2012)

[cragsby_kellogs · 6/10 · 4 April 2013]

Over twelve years since helming his last live-action film Cast Away, director Robert Zemeckis has decided to mark his comeback to film-making with a bang courtesy of his new drama Flight. Having dealt with Delorean time-machines, cartoon rabbits and autistic heroes in his previous productions, Zemeckis takes a dark turn with his latest effort as he teams up with two time Oscar-winning actor Denzil Washington to present a film about the temptation of alcohol and how it can affect the life of its central character. While it has been done before in other alcohol-related films like The Lost Weekend (1944) and Leaving Las Vegas (1995), you can't help but be intrigued when you know that Denzil has an Oscar nomination for it….

William "Whip" Whitaker (Washington) is a pilot who has an alcohol addiction. After spending a heavy night drinking and doing drugs, he takes charge of his latest flight despite still being in a drunken state. But when his flight starts to develop problems in the engineering department, he manages to prevent the plane from crashing thus saving the lives of nearly everyone on board. Although he is hailed a hero, the toxicology report reveals he had alcohol in his blood which leaves him in a tough predicament as he faces being investigated over the incident. As he continues to indulge himself to booze, those around him including lawyer Hugh Lang (Cheadle), close friend Harling Mays (Goodman) and former drug addict-turned-new love interest Nicole (Reilly) try to support him.

As soon as the film starts, you know straight away this isn't Zemeckis's usual territory as we see Whip surrounded by empty beer bottles, lines of cocaine and a sexy (and naked!) Latino woman which sets the tone for what the character's life is all about. This allows writer John Gatins (Oscar-nodded for his script) to create a narrative confrontation for viewers as they become immersed in a story of mental struggle. But for the first half-hour, the film is mostly dominated by the spectacular flight sequence which sees Whip having to handle landing the aircraft in its perilous situation. The director has always excelled when it comes to action scenes and here, it is no exception as the camera shakes uncontrollably and leaves us adrenaline-filled. It is edge-of-your-seat stuff for something so catastrophe and should only be experienced on the big-screen. But the film is not so much about the plane crash and aftermath but is more about Whip's addiction. The highest moments of drama actually occur when confronted by the bottle whether it be at his father's farm or a hotel room he stays at near the film's climax. The latter environment sees him face his toughest choice of whether to drink or not even when facing an important event the following day. Most of the time, the bottle wins the war, just as it unfortunately does so with real life alcoholics. Of course, there are those who try to help him throughout the film but his nasty personality overcomes him even to the point when he gains some new romance in his life by hooking up with former drug-user Nicole. Having spent several years starring in average action-flicks, Denzil Washington manages to reclaim responsibility as one of Hollywood's best actors with his stunning performance of a man whose addiction leaves him in a troubled state of mind. Washington is able to mix charisma, aggression and hidden trauma to his performance as he leaves his audience conflicted over whether they should support his battle to recover or loathe him for his selfish attitude. Don Cheadle and Bruce Greenwood lend effective support as the two authoritative men tasked with helping Whip in his situation but having to put up with his outrageous behaviour while John Goodman stumbles off the set of The Big Lebowski to chew scenery in his limited role as the mouthy but comical dealer. A pleasant surprise in the cast comes from British actress Kelly Reilly as she puts on an immaculate Southern accent in her role as Nicole and provides an emotional and wounded counterpoint to Denzil's Whip.

However Zemeckis does let his guard down with the characterisation and plot structure which is what almost ruined Cast Away in its finale. Though we become fascinated by Whip, we never really find out WHY he is an alcoholic even when we get given some brief details about his family history. When we do see him confronting his ex-wife and son, it comes across as predictable for a man in his state and is a plot cliché that has been done so many times in films and television shows. This also affects the Nicole character as she makes an important contribution to the film's first half only to disappear and then randomly pop up in a contrived manner. Audiences will also find it hard to root for Whip as he is presented as unlikeable for the majority of the film and even when we get to the important courtroom scenes, we struggle to really know whether to care about his fate.

VERDICT: Robert Zemeckis makes a worthy return to live-action films with this gritty but slightly underwhelming character study which is strengthened by an award-winning comeback from Denzil Washington and a mid-air sequence of thrilling proportions.

Don't read too many reviews - experience it for yourself.

[RavenZ · 8/10 · 6 December 2012]

By now you know what the movie is about, so I won't rehash.

What you have here is the anti-Sully Sullenberg. Denzel is incredible as the best pilot you don't want flying your plane, or do you????? Tough questions and tough decisions as Denzel deals with, or doesn't deal with, the aftermath. You pull for him every step of the way, but the problem is which way do you pull? The visuals are very good, gripping, scary. I felt like I was hit hard in the chest while watching the plane.

Make sure the little kiddies stay home, but you need to see this movie. I hope the Academy hands Denzel the Oscar.

A solid examination of alcoholism.

[Troy_Campbell · 7/10 · 30 January 2013]

After the opening scene in which pilot Whip Whitaker (Denzel Washington) wakes up with a monster hangover yet drinks some more alcohol, smokes some weed and does a line of cocaine, it's clear the trailer for Flight was massively misleading. This is not a light-hearted movie with elements of mystery, trademark Denzel coolness or a hint of darkness; this is an intense drama about alcoholism that cuts deep at every turn. The plane crash isn't the focus here, it's merely an extraordinary situation which serves to push Whip's condition to the fore, allowing an examination of the addiction that can inflict itself even on people in positions of great importance. There's no doubting the nobility in attacking such a serious topic, but there's elements that don't work: Kelly Reilly's heroin addict doesn't convince, Don Cheadle is criminally underused as Whip's lawyer and the ending is, if not necessarily the easy route, definitely gift-wrapped a little too neatly. With a solid turn from Washington, a thankful resistance from director Robert Zemeckis to get melodramatic and a terrific soundtrack, Flight manages to stay on track about a man who goes way off it.

Powerful, well-acted drama watered down by a Zemeckisy ending

[rooprect · 24 May 2019]

All the way until the ending I was eating this up. "Flight" is a tense, character-driven drama about a heroic pilot who averts an epic disaster only to be caught in the crosshairs of a long, ugly investigation of his life. It presents a highly complex story, weaving themes of heroism vs. arrogance, good intentions vs. bad results, and bad intentions vs. good results. For 80% of the film, "Flight" is on par with the greatest character studies since "12 Angry Men". However, be prepared for a less than fitting ending, or at best an ending that was rushed so quickly that it leaves you wondering "did we miss an entire scene where the ghosts of Christmas past, present & future showed up?"

That's the only negative I have, although it's a big one. For the rest of my review I'll focus on the positives. The biggest positive is, of course, Denzel Washington as pilot "Whip Whittaker". He certainly doesn't disappoint. The role is a challenging one: a man whose personal life is a disaster even though his professional life is spotless. His professional arrogance leads him to deny the failure of his personal life, and this is the conflict that makes the film riveting.

Although this film is squarely about him, there were some peripheral characters who really added to the pot. British actress Kelly Reilley pulls of a convincing southern accent (though southern sticklers may spot it as more "Alabama" than "Georgia" haha) and more importantly gives us insight into the mind of a damaged person who is genuinely trying to better herself, unlike our hero who denies his faults. Another great character, though minimal, is John Goodman who shows up as a bizarre, surrealistic "fixer" and adds tremendous color and humor to the show. The attorney for Whip Whittaker is excellently played by Don Cheadle who balances slick legal professionalism with utter frustration at his client's self-sabotaging acts.

Even the action scenes were incredibly done, using a full sized commercial jet cut into sections and hoisted up on a weird contraption that made it flip around for the cameras. This is a first class production from start to finish.

It only falls shy of monumental because of its Zemeckisy ending, a trademark of many 80s directors like Spielberg and Ron Howard where everything has to be neatly tied up in a bundle with a moral ending, even if it seems out of left field considering the characters' personality. But that's just my opinion and the reason why I docked "Flight" a few points. You may find it perfect. Regardless I think everyone can agree that most of the film is phenomenal.

Banana Boat is here

[ferguson-6 · 7/10 · 4 November 2012]

Greetings again from the darkness. What is a hero? There have certainly been no shortage of super hero movies these past few years, but those are mostly comic book characters brought to life through the magic of Hollywood. Can a heroic act turn a flawed man into a hero? Should his flaws change how we treat him after the heroic act? All these are questions raised by the script from John Gatins. The easiest question of all? If you are a movie producer and you need a flawed hero ... the obvious choice is Denzel Washington.

Director Robert Zemekis returns to live action after more than a decade of experimenting with animation. Of course, Zemekis is firmly entrenched in Hollywood lore thanks to his Back to the Future trilogy, as well as Forrest Gump (for which he won an Oscar). This is quite dark material for Zemekis and he handles it quite well. The trailer tells us what we need to know about the premise. Denzel plays a pilot who, under extreme circumstances, "inverts" the commercial jet he is flying so it can be landed in an open field. Yes, invert means to fly the plane upside down. If you are queasy about flying, this is one to avoid. And don't count on this being the in-flight movie on your next business trip.

The first 30 minutes of this movie are as strong as any seen on screen this year. We quickly get a sense of Captain Whip Whitaker and then we see his remarkable actions during an incredibly well filmed crash sequence. Unfortunately, I found the second half of the film plays like a heavy-handed advertisement for AA (not American Airlines). Whitaker is exposed for his absurdly high blood alcohol level and existence of cocaine ... so clearly presented in the film's opening. Over the years, many films have tackled addiction: Leaving Las Vegas, Clean and Sober, When a Man Loves a Woman. Rarely have we seen the expert talent of deception and lying that Capt Whitaker displays.

There is little doubt that Denzel's performance will warrant Oscar consideration ... and it should. The film depends on an actor skilled enough to reach the depths necessary for us to believe this guy, despite his cocky pilot strut and unmatched flying skills, is little more than a mentally weak addict.

There are a couple of outstanding supporting performances here: John Goodman as Harling Mays, a colorful and energetic, free-wheeling dealer who works miracles with Whitaker when he appears to gone to function; and Kelly Reilly (Mary Watson from the Sherlock Holmes movies) as fellow addict Nicole, who connects with Whip and tries to help him. We also get solid work from Don Cheedle, Brian Geraghty, Tamara Tunie, Peter Geraty and Melissa Leo. There is also an odd scene featuring James Badge Dale as a cancer patient/philosopher.

The Alan Silvestri score is effective, as is the soundtrack featuring the somewhat obvious songs from Joe Cocker, The Rolling Stones and Cowboy Junkies. The issues with the script are minor and it is recommended in spite of the Bruce Greenwood factor. Every frequent movie goer has their acting nemesis and Greenwood's presence usually indicates a disappointing movie for me ... not the case here.

Chix Chat on Film Review: Prepare for take off!

[EmmaDinkins · 8/10 · 3 November 2012]

Flight is the story of a commercial pilot Whip Whitaker (Denzel Washington) who is able to land a defective plane with extraordinary skill, maneuvering it into an inverted position in order to slow the decent. We see this inverted flight captured in the trailer, but believe it or not this is not the most provocative element of this film. The story is so thought provoking that it will have you walking out of the theater questioning whether or not you could or would choose nobility over self-preservation. Most of what takes place behind the scenes looming like a predator waiting to strike is the blame game, with Whip continuously asserting that no one could have landed that plane except him. That point is supported but it's the collateral damage of his arrogance that is at the forefront of determining liability. The trailer also lets the audience in on the fact that Whip is found to have alcohol in his system as is discussed with Hugh Lang (Don Cheadle) who is the attorney brought in to defend Whip on behalf of the Pilot's association. Hugh was very straight and very narrow, which was the case with most of the characters aside from Whip. It was the dichotomy of Whip's persona so brilliantly conveyed in his mannerisms, responses, and facial expressions that makes the performance Oscar, Golden Globe, BET, Trumpet, Image, MTV and any other awards worthy. If Mr. Washington had uttered eight bars I would say he deserves a Hip Hop award or a Grammy, he was that convincing. I recognized this person that Mr. Washington portrayed so true to life, which is not just a testament to good writing, but mostly to the phenomenal acting talent that is Denzel. All the characteristics that made this individual a hero were the same characteristics that could potentially make him infamous. I will say that I as well as many fans am always open to greater insight into who Denzel is, however the rear view was totally unnecessary. The film does a great job of telling a story about the human condition, nobody is one dimensional and sometimes extreme circumstances make you write yourself a reality check. The question is when you cash that check will you be happy with the results. If you have any fear of flying this is not the movie for you. It will reinforce that fear and possibly cause you to swear off flying altogether. I give this film a green light.

Denzel Washington bails out a painfully slow movie with an incredible performance

[ehlert-alex · 6/10 · 18 February 2013]

"Nobody could've landed that plane like I did," Captain 'Whip' Whitaker (Denzel Washington) proclaims in "Flight". The same declaration applies for the performance Washington puts on in Director Robert Zemickis's film. "Flight", despite its painfully sluggish pace, captivates audiences thanks to a gripping storyline and a haunting performance from Denzel Washington.

The morning after a sleepless night filled with drugs and a dangerous amount of alcohol, Captain Whitaker shoots some cocaine to straighten up for his short routine flight to Atlanta. When a mechanical failure forces an emergency landing in a field, Whip's flying expertise (and possibly some creativity from a stiff midflight cocktail) glides the plane to a smoother landing than anyone thought possible. After controversial toxicity tests reveal the state the pilot was in during the flight, Captain Whitaker finds himself torn between hiding the truth to remain a hero or facing his problems head on for the first time and losing his newfound fame.

The special effects used in "Flight" produce quite the visual spectacle during the plane crash. Views from behind and inside the plane, along with from the ground, are used to communicate the gravity of the situation that the one hundred and two passengers and crew are in. Passengers and luggage are thrown around the cabin as the plane disintegrates in midair, eventually crashing through a church steeple and "landing" in a field. The realistic portrayal of such an intense situation brings the audience right inside the cabin with the passengers.

Unfortunately, the mesmerizing special effects only carry the movie so far. After the plane crash, there is little action to speak of. The impressive visuals that kick off the movie fade away, and a more psychological mood takes over the movie. Whip's efforts for physical and mental recovery last what seems like ages in the two hours of movie time after the plane crash. The dragged out character analysis of Captain Whitaker left me reaching for the "eject" button over and over. However, I was brought right back in every time by Denzel Washington's heart wrenching performance.

Denzel Washington's incredibly believable portrayal of Whip's struggle for sobriety draws audiences in and holds their attention throughout this long movie. Washington conveys that struggle effortlessly and subtly, particularly through his body language and eyes. His performance is complemented by the fact that writer John Gatins tells the story from a third party observer rather than from Whitaker's perspective. Being allowed in to see each event as the other characters in the movie do, audiences truly become emotionally invested in Whip's life.

"Flight" takes moviegoers on quite a ride as they watch Captain 'Whip' Whitaker struggle with substance abuse, fame, and regret after his heroic emergency plane landing. Though this can seem drawn out at times, hold on and fasten your seatbelts for an ending as jarring as the crash that starts the movie.

Took Flight In A Different Direction

[rgkarim · 7/10 · 2 November 2012]

Denzel Washington, a man of many faces, many talents, and many great roles. From football coach to psychopathic father, the man seems to be able to tackle any role and make it come to life. So I feel that fans other fellow fans of this actor were ecstatic to see his latest movie come out this weekend. The premise of this movie focuses on a pilot by the name of William Whip Whitaker who becomes a hero after saving the lives of countless passengers on a crashing plane. Despite his heroic efforts though, his blood work reveals he was intoxicated, which could lead him to life in prison if convicted of flying under the influence. What will be the outcome?

I'll admit I had my skepticisms about this movie, especially the 2 hour and 15 minute time tag placed on it. In my mind I couldn't see how they could keep this case interesting for that long of a time period. However, the boys directing this movie took a different approach to entertain the audience, than an aviation version of Unstoppable. Instead the film is more a message bringing movie, one that has the potential to inspire or offend in so many ways. Unlike other case drama films, Flight immediately tells you Washington is guilty of intoxicated flying, and has some issues to deal with. Rather than working to uncover the truth of the case, this film works to see if Whip can run from his mistakes, all while continuing to binge on his guilty pleasures. Thus, one can imagine there isn't much excitement or on the seat moments in this film. That doesn't mean there isn't some emotional stimulation in this movie though. Washington once again brings a realistic edge to the character, portraying the sleaze ball Whip to a rather gruesome detail. Countless points in the movie you start to judge and despise his character, as he throws himself further down the rabbit hole. Yet at the same time, the various elements of the movie help you feel sorry for the character and somehow bring you into the mindset of someone trying to overcome his challenges. If you're looking for a film to help place you in someone's mindset, well then Flight is for you.

Washington wasn't the only thing to help bring this tale to life. I'll say now that the casting director should get a pat on the back for who they cast in this film. Although Washington took most of the screen time, each supporting actor had just enough screen time and importance to continue driving the tale in different directions, helping Whip uncover more of his self. Kelly Reillydid a nice job playing a fellow addict who was going through her own problems and being Whip's crush, adding some well-timed drama to the mix. John Goodman'sacting also was well appreciated, as the big man managed to relieve the tension with his well delivered comedic lines. However the man to really help drive Denzel's character was Don Cheadle, playing the lawyer assigned to Whip's case. Cheadle's calm demeanor, and ability to act rational were perfect attributes to make the lawyer come to life. Overall, these actors are blended together in just the right amount to keep the story and laughs coming.

Other than acting though, what else does this movie have to offer? For me it's again worthy to talk about the editing work in both sound and visuals. Flight's camera work wowed me as the crew found ways to capture the emotions of the scene. Whether it was a close up of the artificial red eyes, or a wide angle shot showing off the beautiful scenery of the movie, the camera was situated just right to capture all the details. I was especially impressed with the chaotic flight scene, which for once wasn't overdone in a cacophony of howling wind, explosive sound effects, and a fury of string instruments. The crew instead kept things balanced, calm, and easy to follow, while still managing to make one sit on the edge of their seat as they wonder who will make it out of this dire situation. Along with these visuals was again a well selected soundtrack to help add a little more depth to the scene. Some tracks were used to help add a sad tone to the movie, which had other audience members tearing up, while other songs were merely in the background to I guess be a stereotype to alcohol humor. Regardless, the editing is well done to make a drama like this more realistic and for me enjoyable.

However, with realism comes responsibility and this movie may push the limits for some audience members. Although rather enjoyable and clever, some of the dialog will offend certain audience groups and perhaps take away something from the movie. Those who are easily insulted by religion dialogues, may not enjoy the constantly used line of, "It was an act of God," that seemed to be used as an excuse for every incident to befall man. Those who may be sensitive to alcohol situations may also need to desensitize themselves as well, as the realistic portrayal may strike close to home to again be offensive with their stereotypical visuals. Some of the dialogue, laced with some nice cursing, also may cross the line to make you very angry and distracted. Other than offensive stereotypes though, there are some other weaknesses to this movie. The pace of the movie is also slow and the long time tag on the movie might not have been the best decision to make. Editing could have tightened some things up.

Flight has a good message, great acting, and some fantastic acting, but I can't say it is one of my favorite movies this fall. So those looking for a good drama take up this movie, but for most I say rent in on Netflix for a rainy afternoon. Drama:7.0 Movie Overall:7.0

"HOLD ON!" with Zemeckis' daring, full-blooded live-action comeback, and Washington in great form

[Quinoa1984 · 9/10 · 3 November 2012]

Man, what a comeback for Robert Zemeckis to live action! This is a hard-hitting drama that, from the look of the trailer, would appear to be just about the 'hero' factor of a man: what is a hero? This is a subject that with the right approach can really be commandeering. In a sense this is like Zemeckis' Taxi Driver, only substituting alcoholism (with some drugs, though the booze is the key) for insanity. Who can make a difference in this world? Can a pilot who goes on drinking benders and sniffing coke with an ex-wife and kid he doesn't see? Instinct, apparently, can kick in at the most odd and desperate times - such as when a plane malfunctions and it goes into a state of chaos.

What we see with Captain Whip Whitaker, who is a risk-taking but courageous pilot, is gray area. This is not a guy we can entirely root for, and this is good. It's further complicated, and this should be the most complimentary sense, with Denzel Washington's casting. With a few exceptions in his career (i.e. Training Day), Denzel plays a guy the audience can root for. And hey, a hero-pilot is someone people love to lionize like Sullenberger "Sully" from a few years back. But what if the guy is just messed up, or has some internal demons? The script makes reference possibly to a history of familial alcoholism; when Whip returns to his father's old farm, he, in a fit of attempting-to-get- sober, empties and throws out bottles and bottles and cans and cans of liquor. Was this all his? Zemeckis leaves this part off. Good.

Washington is likable even when he is a lout. This could be a criticism that this drunk isn't a *bad* drunk, per-say. Irresponsible, sure, and aggrandizing. But it gets perspective when he's paired against another addict, who is recovering after OD'ing on heroin. The clean-up for this character was perhaps a little too quick, and there is a scene in a hospital stairwell in the middle of the night as Chip recovers where a cancer patient comes along, dropping some God-philosophy, and never appearing again. But these are faults on a small enough level that they don't really knock into what the main vision is of the film: this man, and his very real struggle: what's going to happen with the lucky but sad fact that six of the 102 passengers died(?)

I really admire Zemeckis working in a gray area morally. There were hints of it in Forrest Gump (Jenny's character as not really what Forrest saw her as, and Lt. Dan's struggle to a 'life'), even Back to the Future (she's your MOM, dude!) But here it's like Zemeckis and his writer say 'screw it, let's go into it full-hog'. And the path of the character is so compelling because we care about him much more, or I did anyway, because of his flaws, of his (non-existent) parenting and his fight against the cover of lies he's surrounded himself in: the booze, the coke, the two (or was it three) mini-bottles of vodka found on the plane, and the ensuing investigation. Even the man most in Whitaker's corner, played by Bruce Greenwood in a straight-laced but well-played exasperated performance, doesn't know what the hell to do with him after a while.

In a sense the film is like the best episode of the TV show 'Intervention' never made: we see this character in full dimensions, and it goes further with the performance by its star. You almost take a guy like Washington for granted when he does studio stuff like (as of late) Book of Eli or Safe House. Whip Whittaker is a character, full of pain but also dark, biting humor, warmth, charity, some madness, and Washington plays it all full tilt, but with a lot of subtlety and notes where we just have to watch him, every second of a scene where Zemeckis stays on him. It's almost more about his face, how he changes from cocky-asshole drunk with a buddy like John Goodman's character (who almost comes in like out of a Hunter S. Thompson book, almost not used enough), and when he is sitting at a meeting with his union rep and lawyer (Don Cheadle, grim-faced as usual), the movie is really about that: what is going to do - hell, like the Avengers, man: what is he PREPARED to do?

An investigation of the mind of an alcoholic, not of the airplane crash

[XanderDevil · 7/10 · 1 November 2012]

"An airline pilot saves a flight from crashing, but an investigation into the malfunctions reveals something troubling." I went to a screening of this movie based on this short IMDb synopsis of the movie. Having not viewed any other promotional material for this movie, I went in expecting a movie focusing on the investigation of this airplane crash. What I came to realize is that it is a movie about the investigation of an alcoholic.

Denzel Washington's character Whip Whitaker is portrayed as an exceptional yet alcoholic airline pilot. The movie revolved around Whitaker and his alcohol and drug problems, yet it does not investigate any of the problems that cause the plane crash or the character's hardships. Sure, we are allowed a glimpse into the life of an alcoholic, but the movie does not provide any reason to feel sympathy for the character. We do not know how he got to be that way in the first place.

The movie is predictable in the ways that we would expect of a Hollywood movie about substance-abuse recovery. The story culminates to the character's epiphany that he has a drug problem and that he needs to recover from it to have a fulfilling life.

Overall, it was an entertaining movie, but it my view, it is a rental or a Netflix watch.

Pass the Popcorn review

[PassPopcorn · 6/10 · 12 March 2013]

From Robert Zemeckis, the director of "Forrest Gump" and "Cast away", it might have been logical to expect another good movie, although the aforementioned ones are pretty old. Also, the Oscar nominations for best actor (Denzel Washington) and best screenplay must mean something. Unfortunately, after the almost epic 20 minutes in the beginning, the movie seems to nosedive along with the plane.

It all starts with Whip (Washington) waking up in a hotel room next to what I thought was a prostitute. She turns out to be a flight attendant who works (and occasionally has some fun) with Mr. Whitaker, the pilot. Now, I don't mind nudity in movies, but if you pick it for the first scene in the movie, whatever your purpose was, it won't turn out good, or even shocking – it's just going to look cheap and make people label the movie as "not really good" straightaway. Even if the naked girl (Nadine Velazquez) is really beautiful. After that, we realize the main character is an alcoholic who takes cocaine for breakfast and gets high on oxygen, he does that in front of people he has never seen before (his co-pilot) and in front of friends, and nobody seems to mind or feels the need to report him. He is also divorced, has a son who lives with the ex wife, and rarely speaks to them both. The perfect antihero. This role is very suitable for Washington but it is far from his best and so this somewhat average performance questions his Oscar nomination. The plot moves on when Whip drugged and drunk but extremely lucid, operates the Flight 227 to Atlanta which, after some turbulences, starts to fall apart, and he is forced to crash land it in a field, managing to save the lives of almost everyone on board. He wakes up in a hospital and is informed that, because of the results of his blood test done after that crash, he could face criminal charges, and is advised to stop drinking, which is not easy.

As I said, this movie starts out greatly, but fails to deliver. After the tense, scary, nervous first part, it's as if another movie begins – a story about an alcoholic who tries to make order in his ruined-by-an-addiction life. It's something we have seen many times, and here is not very impressive, especially because of the constant presence of religious symbols that end up reducing every event and action to God's will. Most of the other characters seem put in there just so Washington doesn't have to act alone, there is no real relationship between him and them, or at least you can't feel it. Apart from that, the story didn't have to be over two hours long – some scenes are either tedious or pointless, and should've been left out. The soundtrack, despite being obvious (Feelin' Alright by Joe Cocker plays whenever Whip takes cocaine), works really well, and the directing is fine. Therefore, I can't sincerely say it's a bad movie, I liked it. It could just have been better.

Rating: 6/10 Read more at http://passpopcorn.wordpress.com/

A really interesting, well made movie with a terrific Washington

[secondtake · 7/10 · 10 March 2013]

Flight (2012)

What starts as one thing ends up being another. And that's a great thing. This movie has several stages to it, all tied together by a terrible airplane accident. And tied together by alcoholism, plain and simple.

Denzel Washington takes on the lead role with the kind of intensity Daniel-Day Lewis did for his Lincoln--it's not surprising they were both nominated for best actor. And this is Washington's movie, top to bottom. Yes, there is yet another offbeat and hilarious and commanding smaller role by John Goodman (see "Argo" for starters), and a strong if overly restrained lawyerly performance by Don Cheadle. In truth the whole cast is believable in a contemporary, mainstream way (we can skip the woman at the start who unfortunately ends up being purely provocative and decorative, and we can admire the heroin addict played by Kelly Reilly).

The director? Robert Zemeckis, who has been trying for years to carve his own way to some kind of populist stardom, like a more fun Spielberg. And his movies often fall short, I think because of their very populism--they want to be liked be everyone, and you can't quite do that most of the time. (Frank Capra comes to mind, but he's another order of director at his best, which he wasn't always.) Zemeckis is smart and competent, however, and he makes this movie roll right along with a quiet fascination for the process of NTSB investigators and alcohol tests, not the most exciting material.

Don't let me leave out the plane crash--this is no spoiler, I think--which is terrific and harrowing, and with the final smartphone footage from the ground you'll be gasping. (This movie won't be used for in-flight entertainment, that's for sure.) It's exciting stuff.

By the way, when you get to the end and you see what the investigators decide about the plane (not about the pilot), remember to think back to the first moments of the flight, not just the last moments. There are some questions that you might have to answer anew. A movie that bears scrutiny and some reconsidering is good stuff.

Enjoyable. This is kind of routine movie-making, but well done, well done!