Flight Review

Rating: 9/10 (8 December 2013)

Flight A Movie Review by Jonathan Azurdia Denzel Washington, in a strong, incredible performance, astonishes the viewer as he takes on the role of Whip Whitaker, a commercial airline pilot with a dark inner struggle. His dependency on alcohol and cocaine is forefront in the opening scene and sets the stage for what follows. Prior to taking off for the first flight of the morning, he takes a line of cocaine and drinks a substantial amount of liquor. During the flight, the plane malfunctions and disaster is averted as Whip's instinct kicks in and saves 96 of the 100 passengers. His secret life threatens to be exposed after a drug screen report shows that he was intoxicated. The questions begin to arise. Was he really intoxicated? Did the plane crash because of a malfunction or because of his state of mind at the time?
This is not a typical good versus evil type of story. Robert Zemekis has crafted a movie in which the main character is a hero with flaws, whose shortcomings are socially unacceptable and illegal. It creates an interesting dilemma for the other characters in the story as events unfold to the final scenes. The other characters include John Goodman as the unlikeable drug dealer and Don Cheadle as the pilots' union lawyer managing the crisis. The relationships and interactions between the various characters provide depth to the story as the social and ethical pressure builds. Though the other characters are not well developed, it is the performance of Washington that propels the movie forward. He presents a tragic character with immense skill and emotional depth. Zemekis's direction uses the timing and events of the story and the interplay of the characters to keep the conclusion from being easily predictable, and the final scenes are riveting.
The story and characters are supported by the cinematography and special effects. The plane crash is created with special effects that realistically portray the nature of the harrowing event. The cinematography and sets give a sense that this pilot lives in the everyday world. Whitaker's home is peaceful and inviting, but becomes part of the theme of the story as Whitaker struggles with his demons. The scenes of drug use are realistic and gripping, adding to the drama. The final scenes draw the viewer in as the camera focuses on Washington, in his final dramatic scene. It is a worthy performance, supported by the other actors and the skillful direction of Zemekis. This movie is well worth viewing, maybe more than once.