Flight

Flight is the new film from Robert Zemeckis - a director who's been absent from live action for over a decade. As well as his pioneering work with motion capture (The Polar Express, Beowulf, A Christmas Carol), Zemeckis has given us some of the most beloved films of all time; Back to the Future, Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Forest Gump, to name a few. He has also proven his worth outside the action/adventure genre with films as diverse as Cast Away and What Lies Beneath.

Flight showcases the many talents of this acclaimed director beginning with a heart-stopping plane incident.
Denzel Washington plays Whip Whitaker - the hero pilot who saves many with a stunningly inventive display of piloting. Despite his hero status, Whip has blood on his hands and alcohol on his breath - and the families of the slain want justice. The film follows the plight of the aircrafts captain after an accusation of manslaughter by intoxication.

What begins as a finger-gnawing disaster piece, continues as a drama about addiction.
While recovering in hospital, Whip meets fellow addict Nicole (Kelly Reilly). A kinship is born between the two and it's not long before they're living together.
But as Nicole embraces her new beginning, Whip grows more depressed and disillusioned by the accusations that have been flung at him.
Washington does a very fine job with good support from Reilly and Don Cheadle (as Whitaker's industry appointed lawyer).

Despite the spectacular opening and the superb performances by the principle cast, Flight does take a dive in to melodrama occasionally - with a cliched soundtrack to match.
One scene towards the end is particularly jarring. A misguided scene featuring John Goodman as Whips drug dealer, Harling. The scene is inappropriately funny and consequently, best forgotten.

After a turbulent middle, the final act has you sitting to attention once more. All eyes are on Whitaker as he faces up to a few home truths.

When it's good, Flight is very good. For a director who's embraced so many new methods of film-making however, it seems odd that he would fall on so many tried and tested ones.

3/5


Poster image courtesy: http://www.empireonline.com