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Flight. The Verdict.
Tuesday 12th February 2013 | Harry
Denzel Washington returns to frightening form in the brilliant Flight
Flight is the story of the talented but troubled pilot, Whip Whitaker, whose plane devastatingly falls out of the air for no apparent reason other than seemingly an act of God. The story centralises around him and the events leading up to and following on from the crash landing which miraculously only leaves 6 out of the 102 people on board dead. As details of the crash emerge, Whip is hailed as a national hero, his lawyer telling him “The FAA and the NTSB took 10 pilots, placed them in simulators, recreated the events that led to this plane falling out the sky. Do you know how many of them were able to safely land the planes? Not one. Every pilot crashed the aircraft, killed everybody on board. You were the only one who could do it.”
Unfortunately for poor Whip it is not that simple. He has some very severe issues that he battles with on a day to day basis. This much is clear from the opening scene which is as cool as it is worrying. Remember there are not many people on the planet cooler than Denzel Washington, who can pull off any character with effortless ease. As we head deeper into the film, the extent of Whitaker’s substance abuse becomes clearer and his actions more erratic. This is not an action packed mystery thriller but more a character study delving deep into the depths of Whitaker’s character and actions.
Having said it’s not action packed, the opening 20 minutes will have you on the edge of your seat as director Robert Zemeckis expertly directs a terrifying descent. Any timid flyer will be left queasy for this whole period, you have been warned. With regards to the plot, the less you know the better other than what I’ve said and is immediately evident. At times it may stretch the realms of credibility but the outstanding performance of Denzel Washington always reels it in, even if it is his character that is often the main offender in this category. That Denzel manages to create such a believable character out of what many would consider implausible is a testament to his acting skills. After a string of more disappointing films on the Denzel Washington roster over the past few years (The Taking of Pelham 123, Unstoppable) he really raises the bar back up to what we expect from the man behind performances in the fantastic Training Day and American Gangster to name but a few. It is an emotional and raw performance that has rightly seen him nominated for the Best Actor Oscar.
Mention must go to Robert Zemeckis who also was in need of a return to form. Although he has by no means directed the perfect film it is a highly entertaining one which will engage its audience right up until the end. The crash scene alone is enough to serve audiences of a reminder of the talent he has behind the camera. The other scene stealer in the film is the brilliant John Goodman, Whip’s crude and medically on-the-ball drug dealer/friend. Whatever scene time he gets he steals it, especially in a scene towards the end where he helps Whip out of a spot of bother with some coco puffs (you’ll have to watch to see what I mean).
So, to conclude. Flight really takes you on a hell of a ride, even if it does stretch the boundaries of believability on occasions. However, it is through the fantastic acting and solid directing that the credibility issues never actually do become an issue (unless you take yourself too seriously), and all that ensues is a bloody good film which should be right at the top of your ‘to watch’ list.
Harry Illingworth
@harryillers
