Glossy, brave big budget character study that doesn't feel completely the sum of it's parts

Rating: 7/10 (11 June 2013)

STAR RATING: ***** Saturday Night **** Friday Night *** Friday Morning ** Sunday Night * Monday Morning
Whip Whitaker (Denzel Washington) is a respected, seasoned airline pilot who presents a respectable image to the public, but behind the scenes leads a debauched life of drink, drugs and wanton women. He ends up flying a plane while drugs and alcohol are still in his system, which just so happens to crash. However, Whitaker's actions on board undoubtedly save more lives than could have been taken. But the powers that be need a scapegoat and as investigations in to his private life begin, he starts to spiral madly out of control.
It remains an undisputed statistical fact that air travel is the safest form of transportation, although ironically it's still probably the most unduly feared. It may be the grand scale of a plane's design that gives people the heebie jeebies, making the thought of crashing in it more than any other form of transport more daunting. With this in mind, a grand Hollywood picture would have to make a crash scenario as realistic as possible, and not just play on people's fears. Flight does a good job of doling out the tension in the build up to the big disaster, allowing time to pass and a relaxed mood to settle in before the impact hits. With this out the way and the rest of the movie to contend with, Robert Zemekis's film lays out it's grand ambitions and intentions on a plate, and despite basically doing nothing wrong, still comes off not feeling quite the sum of it's parts.
In the lead role, Washington has as solid and commanding a presence as ever, portraying a flawed, weak individual, whose undoubtable ability and dedication juxtaposes with that to present someone who just seems on an unexplainable path of self destruction. And, maybe that's the problem. Despite it's sprawling length, the film never really tries to delve in to the psyche of it's protagonist, and offer glimpses in to what might have happened before that makes him tick like he does. Instead, we are left to glare at this tragic figure as he stumbles in to a friendship/romance with recovering addict Norma (Brit girl Kelly Reilly) and fail to stay off the wagon for the inevitable public relations duties he will face, leading on to a slushy, sentimental TV movie ending that will feel cheesy and dated to some. The rest of the support cast includes John Goodman and Don Cheadle, supporting players who end up feeling as un/explored as the lead character.
Zemekis undoubtedly presents an intriguing, ambitious character study here that aims for something higher than your typical Hollywood yarn, and he has phenomenal talent to pull it off. Sadly, while far from a failure, it just doesn't feel as much of a success as it could have been. ***