not what you'd expect yet still effective

Rating: Null/10 (4 January 2013)

William "Whip" Whitaker is a hard drinker, substance abuser, wayward ex-husband, and absentee father, yet despite his shortcomings he's managed to find some degree of stability in his occupation as an airline captain. One morning, what begins as an ordinary flight turns into a near-death experience when he manages to land a plane headed into steep dive, saving 96 of the 102 passengers on board in the process. Although initially hailed as a hero, a toxicology screening reveals that Whip was under the influence of cocaine and alcohol, and he faces some difficult choices if he's going to avoid culpability for the incident. What initially seems like a taut suspense thriller quickly transitions into a gripping and believable character study of addiction, loss, and redemption. Keeps you slightly off-balance but still manages to make its point, and has a tense, complex performance from Washington at its core. ***