Brace! Brace! Brace!

Rating: 6/10 (27 February 2014)

"Flight", doesn't exactly crash and burn like the aircraft piloted by Denzel Washington, but it does hit heavy turbulence and has a tendency to stray off course.
The story is straightforward enough. Denzel Washington plays Whip Whitaker, a pilot who successfully crash lands a passenger plane. Only a few people are killed thanks to his incredible skill, but he is nonetheless investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board. It becomes clear that Whitaker is an alcoholic, but it is not so clear if this played a part in the accident.
The film is full of odd touches and characters. Whitaker meets a girl, Nicole, played by Kelly Reilly. Nicole is addicted to drugs and booze. Although it doesn't have much to do with the story we first meet her as she gets in touch with her drug dealer.
Many filmmakers seem fascinated by the drug scene, although I'm not so sure audiences share their passion. The film presents the perfect Hollywood drug dealer stereotype sprouting a lot of time-worn drug jargon.
Also thrown into the blender with all the other ingredients is the beginning of an orgy (or maybe the end of one) in the drug dealer's pad, plus a little full frontal nudity and some bare butt – just to make sure everything is covered – or uncovered as the case may be.
John Goodman has a role in the film as Whitaker's quirky friend, Harling Mays, who comes to his rescue, especially when he is boozed out. The performance is actually John Goodman parodying John Goodman, what it's all about is beyond me; it just reinforces the fact that this is a film full of ideas – not all of them good ones.
Denzel Washington is the real reason to watch this film. He has such a powerful screen presence that he almost pulls the film together despite lapses in other areas. He is believable as the pilot who keeps his nerve and brings the stricken plane down. He keeps in character throughout; a strong man, not easily intimidated. He even sticks to his drinking despite all the pressure to stop. However Denzel Washington projects a sense of honour on the screen and it's no surprise when in the end he straightens up and flies right – a little obvious and predictable though it is.
"Flight" is watchable enough as it unfolds but I think the story was actually a bit thin to start with, and a lot of extraneous material was added to pad it out. Although the critics were fairly positive about this movie, I feel it is a long way from being a great film or even a particularly good one.