Come Fly the Friendly Skies with A Drunk Pilot!

Rating: 8/10 (4 November 2012)

Robert Zemeckis returns to the world of live action film with Flight, the story of a plane crash that has grave consequences for the pilot. Denzel Washington embodies Captain Whip Whitakerâ€”an alcoholic whose life was spiraling before the accidentâ€”in a harrowing performance. Flight is a tense character study that will resonate with addicts, and impress audiences.
When we first meet Whip, he has just awoken from a bender. He is disheveled, sluggish, and recovering from a night of ecstasy with a member of his crew (Nadine Velazquez). The room he inhabits at a cheap motel is completely in shambles, similar to the present state of his life. A snort of cocaine rouses the captain, and sends him off into his element: flying. During the beginning of the flying scene, the audience witnesses the passion which drives this being. Whip is an incredibly talented pilot. He handles himself less than professionally, and his staff is quick to realize it, but the man can fly a plane. A mechanical failure sends the plane into a nosedive, rocketing all the passengers to a sure grave, but Whip commands the situation and brings the plane to a secure landing. However, casualties are unavoidable. The film then details the ensuing fallout from the accident, placing a focused spotlight on the behavior of the pilot and his part in the catastrophe.
Denzel Washington is outstanding as Whip. He exudes such a level of magnetism in this film that it is difficult to dislike him, even when you realize how obnoxious he truly is. Washington is a master of facial expressions: When Whip is thrilled, his smile gleams like sunshine, but when sorrow creeps upon him, the full brunt of pain is evident in his eyes. He is a character drowning in his own disastrous tendencies, and the film is very careful to remain vague on whether or not he will be vindicated. Washington deserves limitless praise for his portrayal, but other actors do actually manage to steal the spotlight, if only momentarily. John Goodman is a wrecking ball of charisma whenever he is featured. Goodman plays Whip's confidante and dealer. He's covered in grime from head to toe and enjoys every moment of it. Kelly Reilly is apt in her role as a former user, who develops a romantic relationship with Whip and strives to pull him from the wreckage of his life. Don Cheadle plays Whip's lawyer to smarmy perfection. He has less than pure intentions, but zero reservations about gaming the system and clearing his client. John Badge Dale shows up as a cancer patient for a brief scene, but he completely steals the show for the few minutes he spends delivering a palpable monologue. This film soars due to the remarkable cast assembled.
Since this is a film about the subsequent events of a plane crash, it would be irresponsible of me to exclude the crash from this review. Zemeckis films the crash in such a manner that you are nervously anticipating the conclusion. To say that the scene is intense would be egregious; the scene is thick with emotion. Dread clings to each twist and shift that the plane makes. The focus is mainly on the plane's cabin, but when the turbulence begins to fling passengers it is difficult to keep your eyes on the screen. Anyone who suffers from aerophobia is advised to arrive fashionably late to a screening of this movie.
The film is very well done. It is certainly not Zemeckis' or Washington's greatest achievement, but is a fine character study none the less. The only grievance I had with the film was its tendency to become unnecessarily preachy. While I'm sure Alcoholic Anonymous is a worthwhile organization for many struggling addicts in the world, the film seemed to fervently promote AA and its philosophy. The film was very subtle in presenting Whip's realization of his faults, so it makes the ham-fisted AA propaganda all the more obvious. Addicts definitely need help: I hope this is the message derived from this film, and not that you need AA to surmount your short-comings.
Flight is quite a spectacle. It is great to see Washington at the peak of his abilities. I hope that he garners some recognition for the extraordinary effort he committed to this role. Flight has a phenomenal crash scene that is terribly gripping, but the fierce unraveling of the film's protagonist is equally severe.