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Things that go bump in the Flight


Flight
DIRECTED BY: Robert
Zemeckis
STARRING: Denzel
Washington, Don Cheadle, Kelly Reilly, John
Goodman
CERT: 15A

Have you ever seen a nervous flight attendant? Ever seen members of the flight crew look a tad shaky or exchange worried glances when the going got rough in the air?

Chances are you haven’t and neither have I. Which is always reassuring, even for the seasoned flyer. If these guys don’t seem to think the plane is going to fall apart any minute, even in the worst of weather, then it probably isn’t.

On the flight piloted by Captain Whip Whitaker (Washington), the crew look terrified from the moment the plane leaves the ground, not the kind of sight to ease the minds of the passengers being shaken about the cabin.

There’s a bad storm out there and it gets fairly rocky, but Whittaker pulls out all the stops to bring the plane through the rough. Then it’s sunshine, blue skies and cheers and everyone can relax. The flight attendants are smiling again, the clearest sign that everything is going to be fine. Though actually the real trouble hasn’t even started.

That happens when it’s time to descend and the controls malfunction, sending the plane into a nosedive. It’s really looking grim this time, but again, Captain Whip is up to the task, rolling the plane on its back to pull it level – much to the horror of his young co-pilot (Brian Geraghty), who suspects that all may not be well with the captain. He suspects correctly but for the moment, that kind of thinking will have to wait.

The flights attendants, meanwhile, are looking petrified again, especially Margaret (Tamara Tunie), who’s helping the captain to do these crazy things in the cockpit. In all of her career, in all of those pre-flight safety routines, she’s never quite issued the instruction, “In the unlikely event that the pilot starts flying the plane upside down, don’t panic. This is perfectly normal, honest to God. We’ll all be grand.”

Which, indeed, turns out to be true enough. They’re not all grand but most of them are, after Whitaker manages to crash land the plane in a field, narrowly missing the somewhat surprised converts at an outdoor church baptism service.

Whitaker becomes an instant hero, though not to everyone. The investigation into the crash reveals that he was drunk and high on cocaine while flying and he’s going to need a very good lawyer (Don Cheadle) to help him salvage his career and stay out of jail.

In the meantime he’s shacked up at his daddy’s old farm, trying vainly to kick the habit, in the company – but with the unwanted help – of fellow addict Nicole (Reilly).

They’ve met through a series of movie coincidences and nothing about their relationship is convincing. Likewise, Whip’s broken marriage and non-existent ties to his son are tacked on to the story but never developed.

Which means there’s quite a bit of wasted time and potential. The film kicks off brilliantly and Washington gives a very fine portrayal of a man who just can’t seem to get the better of his demons. But nobody else around him seems real and almost every situation he finds himself in seems poorly contrived simply to make a point.

His professional predicament is the exception, though even that goes all Hollywood in the end, when decisions are made that go against everything the man has shown himself to be. Anyone with close experience of addiction will be more than a little unconvinced.

The one other character who leaves an impression is John Goodman’s friendly local dealer, eager to serve. The problem there is that he’s out of place in a film like Flight. He belongs in a better, funnier movie.

Director Robert Zemeckis used to make better, funnier movies but maybe his 12-year absence from live action film (he’s been distracted by animated efforts like The Polar Express and Beowulf) has dulled the old blade.
In any event, Flight is a worthy effort, weighed down with excess baggage.

 

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