Denzel flies high in 'Flight'

Rating: 8/10 (5 November 2012)

Denzel gives a high-flying (pun intended) performance as Whip Whitaker, a commercial pilot who may have a drinking problem, but he'll certainly be the last to know. Directed with restraint by tech-whiz Robert Zemeckis in his first live-action effort in more than a decade, "Flight" is a gut- wrenching film with its power grounded in its lead performance by Mr. Washington. He too acts with a restraint unseen in his Oscar-winning work as a bad cop in "Training Day", instead opting to bare his soul with his eyes. Man, those are some heavy, storied eyes. And they should be. From the film's riveting opening crash sequence (Zemeckis' time to shine) to its gripping court-room ending, we take a saddening journey through Whip's life as it spirals out of control faster than a full-pitched plane in a nosedive. At times a tad preachy, but ultimately satisfying, you can go ahead and reserve a seat for Denzel on a direct flight to the Oscars. And it would be a cryin' shame to not mention John Goodman's knockout turn as a drug dealer. Wow he's brilliantly funny!