Film Review: Flight

Director: Robert Zemeckis

This is Zemeckis first film in over a decade that has actually been filmed live and not animated when he released What Lies Beneath. A lengthy advertising campaign preceded its release and the trailer was one of the most enjoyable of 2012. Denzel Washington is nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor and the film was also nominated for Best Screenplay.

Captain William 'Whip' Whittaker (Denzel Washington)

Captain William 'Whip' Whittaker (Denzel Washington) is an airline pilot who drinks and does drugs to excess, after doing both in the hours before a flight he flies a plane through some severe turbulence safely but then the plane fails and he is forced to take drastic measures to save the crew and passengers onboard. He survives the crash but has to deal with the fallout from his toxicology report showing that he has alcohol and chemicals in his blood, whilst in hospital he also meets heroin user Nicole (Kelly Reilly).

After an impressive trailer with a superb selection of songs, the film unfortunately is a bit of a letdown after the crash. It takes a long time to weave its way to its slightly inevitable conclusion and at times Denzel's strong lead performance is the only thing holding it together. Flight doesn't exactly use all the clichés surrounding alcoholism but sails very close to them at times. The scene on the plane before and during the crash are incredible to watch which set the tone for the film that was never matched.

'Whip' with Nicole Maggen (Kelly Reilly)

Compared to the trailer its important to note that this is more of a film about alcoholism in society and the real world set against the backdrop of a pilot being involved in airplane crash. The action pretty much ends after the crash as we look into the character of 'Whip' and the many problems that alcoholism has brought him. The back story of Nicole was decent although quite obvious but in the overall context was pointless as she only served to be someone more adept at fighting her addiction this time. The comedy is almost entirely provided by two short cameos by John Goodman as Whip's friend who supplies him with drugs and liquor, a character that was also under-utilized. Plenty of potential that is unrealised as the film grinds to a conclusion.

2/4 good lead and action scenes are let down by following story