Wednesday 6 February 2013

180reviews - Flight

Flight - February 2013 


Director: Robert Zemeckis Writer: John Gatins
Cast: Denzel Washington, Bruce Greenwood, Don Cheadle, Kelly Reilly, John Goodman, Tamara Tunie, Melissa Leo

The film opens with a spectacular flight sequence that culminates with Washington's Captain 'Whip' Whitaker turning a plane upside down and landing it. Out of the 102 passengers on board, 96 survive. Whitaker is lauded a hero soon becoming the centre of media attention. What is undisclosed is the Captain's serious drinking problem, substance abuse and his inability to stay sober even if it means proving the crash was an 'act of god'/technical calamity rather than the result of his own health state. Washington gives a powerful performance; emotional and irrational, the audience really relate to Whitaker willing him to stay sober even if we and even he knows he won't stay off the booze. The film seemed doomed from the start with such a compelling first half hour, but the brilliant supporting cast and the energetic tones kept this film off the ground. Particularly admirable turns from Greenwood and Reilly, but Cheadle and Goodman seemed slightly underused. The film teaches you many things including, don't drink and fly and that cocaine can cure hangovers in less than 40 minutes.

84%

Adam Bloom


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