MOVIE OF THE WEEK #2: FLIGHT
"Women love a man in uniform, especially me - even when I'm playing a man struggling with some serious problems!" Captain William "Whip" Whittaker (Denzel Washington) makes his way to his destiny in a scene from director Robert Zemeckis' addiction drama FLIGHT. Credit: © 2012 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.
KEY CAST MEMBERS: Denzel Washington, Kelly Reilly, Don Cheadle, Bruce Greenwood, John Goodman, Nadine Velazquez, Tamara Tunie, Brian Geragthy and Melissa Leo
WRITER(S): John Gatins
WRITER(S): John Gatins
DIRECTOR: Robert Zemeckis
THE PLOT: A drama with a title that is a bit deeper than one might first realize, Flight stars Denzel Washington as William "Whip" Whitaker, an airline pilot who is excellent at his job ... Despite the fact he has a serious problem with alcohol and drug abuse. Partying before a flight from Tampa to Atlanta with fellow flight crew member Katerina Marquez (Nadia Velazquez), Whip thinks his next flight is just going to be like any other one, so he can't think of any reason why to not pop a few more mini bottles of vodka - after already taking a few bumps of coke at the hotel - before take off.
Then his plane suffers a major equipment failure, his co-pilot (Brian Geragthy) freaks out, his long-standing friend/flight attendant (Tamara Tunie) begins to pray she'll have a chance to see her son again and Whip has to make a bold, unprecedented move to land the plane.
While people such as his friend (and fellow cocaine enthusiast) Harling Mays (John Goodman) are hailing him as a hero, the pending TSA investigation into the flight's crash might be a bit concerning. And once Charlie Anderson (Bruce Greenwood) informs him six people died (which includes Nadia and another flight crew member), Whip realizes he may have some reason for concern ... But once Hugh Lang (Don Cheadle) is brought in to work on his behalf legally, he thinks everything is OK.
Meanwhile, Nicole (Kelly Reilly) is struggling with her own substance abuse problems, which eventually end up landing her at the same hospital as Whip. Meeting by chance in the hallway after sneaking out to satisfy another of their mutual addictions (cigarettes), the two hit it off and Whip promises to stay in touch once they are both discharged.
But while Kelly takes her recovery seriously, Whip is still not ready to come to the realization he is an alcoholic ... So what will happen as the TSA investigator Ellen Block (Melissa Leo) keeps working the case and the media keeps trying to find out just who this hero is? There's only one way to find out.
Then his plane suffers a major equipment failure, his co-pilot (Brian Geragthy) freaks out, his long-standing friend/flight attendant (Tamara Tunie) begins to pray she'll have a chance to see her son again and Whip has to make a bold, unprecedented move to land the plane.
While people such as his friend (and fellow cocaine enthusiast) Harling Mays (John Goodman) are hailing him as a hero, the pending TSA investigation into the flight's crash might be a bit concerning. And once Charlie Anderson (Bruce Greenwood) informs him six people died (which includes Nadia and another flight crew member), Whip realizes he may have some reason for concern ... But once Hugh Lang (Don Cheadle) is brought in to work on his behalf legally, he thinks everything is OK.
Meanwhile, Nicole (Kelly Reilly) is struggling with her own substance abuse problems, which eventually end up landing her at the same hospital as Whip. Meeting by chance in the hallway after sneaking out to satisfy another of their mutual addictions (cigarettes), the two hit it off and Whip promises to stay in touch once they are both discharged.
But while Kelly takes her recovery seriously, Whip is still not ready to come to the realization he is an alcoholic ... So what will happen as the TSA investigator Ellen Block (Melissa Leo) keeps working the case and the media keeps trying to find out just who this hero is? There's only one way to find out.
THE TAKE: Addiction movies are nothing new. A subject that has long been fodder for Hollywood dating back to the days of the (now viewed as comical) Reefer Madness that also continues to be an issue in Tinseltown, Flight doesn't break any new ground on the subject. Thus, if you are looking for something of that nature, you're looking in the wrong place.
However, if you're looking for a well-acted drama that packs intensity while treating its subject - save for one terribly corny scene with John Goodman channeling Walter from The Big Lebowski (and not in a good way) - Flight is a very enjoyable watch. Washington knows how to conduct himself to bring drama to life live and in living color; Flight is just the latest example of that fact. In Whip, you have a charming character who can abuse that charm to allow himself to continue to justify abusing himself - which is what makes the him as compelling as he is throughout the film.
Likewise, Reilly (remember her as Mary Watson from that subpar Sherlock Holmes sequel last year?) continues the tradition of British actors and actresses doing American accents better than we do theirs, making the most out of a role that could otherwise be forgettable. Cheadle and Greenwood provide a great one-two punch as a TSA-fearing pair trying to save Whip from himself (mostly for the pilot's union's sake), offering a great blend of humor for Washington to play off for both comedic and dramatic effect.
However, if you're looking for a well-acted drama that packs intensity while treating its subject - save for one terribly corny scene with John Goodman channeling Walter from The Big Lebowski (and not in a good way) - Flight is a very enjoyable watch. Washington knows how to conduct himself to bring drama to life live and in living color; Flight is just the latest example of that fact. In Whip, you have a charming character who can abuse that charm to allow himself to continue to justify abusing himself - which is what makes the him as compelling as he is throughout the film.
Likewise, Reilly (remember her as Mary Watson from that subpar Sherlock Holmes sequel last year?) continues the tradition of British actors and actresses doing American accents better than we do theirs, making the most out of a role that could otherwise be forgettable. Cheadle and Greenwood provide a great one-two punch as a TSA-fearing pair trying to save Whip from himself (mostly for the pilot's union's sake), offering a great blend of humor for Washington to play off for both comedic and dramatic effect.
The thing that ultimately makes Zemeckis' picture worthwhile is the unflinching way in which he shows Washington's character spiral down without giving away what is eventually going to happen. Instead of forcing things down your throat (irony of that word choice noted), Zemeckis is sharp enough to let them unfold in a more natural fashion. The decision pays off well as even when you know Whip is about to make a mistake, you understand why he is and that he has to make the mistake anyway. Watching a man known for his refinement off screen spiral out of control is a marvelous task, so much so that you end up thinking "Wow, Denzel is really in bad shape!" to the point you might forget that you're talking about Denzel freakin' Washington.
That is a testament to the film that makes such an uncomfortable film so watchable.
PARTING SHOT: A film that might be able to help someone do what thousands of hours of interventions may or may not, Flight showcases Washington's acting prowess, the arrival of Kelly Reilly ... And why addiction is a serious issue so many people continue to struggle with every day.
RATING (OUT OF FOUR BUCKETS OF POPCORN):
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