Wednesday Movie Night: Flight (2012)

I best know Robert Zemeckis from directing the Back to the Future movies, but he definitely takes a different turn than what I know him for in Flight. Flight is a lot darker and deals with some very adult matters. What really makes this movie shine though is Denzel Washington who brings one of his most memorable parts in years. He portrays it with a lot of emotion to the point where it feels too real.

Summary:  The flight begins like the many other Whip has piloted. He is confident and very relaxed, and also drunk from the alcohol he has had. Considering how long he has been doing that and nothing has occurred though he doesn't even let it phase him as he gets on the plane. The plane malfunctions though and Whip is the only one with the experience on the plane to actually land it safely. An investigation though begins after the crash to determine the cause of crash, and this also brings investigations upon the people attending and flying the plane. While his lawyer tries to warn him of the seriousness of the matter, Whip seems hesitant to heed his warnings.


Acting: Denzel Washington really is the highlight of the movie as Whip. He seems to really channel all the emotions and sort of the building guilt that comes along with what he has done with his life. His performance feels very real and compels you throughout the movie. The rest of the cast does well though.  Kelly Reily is a drug addict, Nicole, that Whip gets involved with. Don Cheadle gives a good performance as his lawyer, and just adds an element that is needed in the movie. There is also Bruce Greenwood as Charlie who is being the guide through the whole process after the crash.

Filming:  The filming is very intense, and I think the plane crash scene is one of the scariest I've seen. It will make you hesitant to get on a plan. I think what Zemeckis is able to do well though is make you feel for his characters, even in their worst moments, and also give you a front seat ride to the action. Whether it's space travel or riding in a plane, he makes you feel like you are there. His style isn't very characteristically to the point where it's in your face, but present enough to be his trademark.

Plot: Personally, I like how the director gives the characters flaws, but he never deems it so dark that you can't at least have some hope that things can be okay. Others may not like that he needs to do that in his movies, but I do. Washington makes the addiction in his movie feel and look so real though. It's definitely one his strongest performances, and as the movie develops it becomes more about his struggle to get away from the addiction than the plane crash that has occurred. There is something in the movie though that does finally make it feel like it running a tad too long. I definitely don't think the movie needs over a two hour run time especially when we know where it is finally going.

Flight is one of the best of 2012. It has a lot of emotion, action, and gives hope, and there is just something that feels very real about the movie. Denzel Washington is hard to out do in the movie despite there are other good performances in the movie as well though. He seems very intertwined in is role to the point where it's one of the few times you can disassociate a big name actor from his character. You also have good special effects that bring to life the horrors of this plan incident.

Rating 8 of 10.