Overblown and Overrated

Rating: 3/10 (17 December 2012)

I kept thinking through this movie that it was expressly created to be a path to the Oscars for Denzel Washington, the formula being put an actor in an unattractive role with fat belly, bad attitude and an addiction, and you're on your way. But, "Flight" doesn't make it because the plot line is too predictable and shallow, the characters are caricatures, lacking believability and connection with each other, and the screen writing amateurish. Especially exaggerated scenes involve John Goodman's dope dealing character, which is so blatantly parodied, it can't be taken seriously. And there is an embarrassingly poor scene that coincidentally introduces "Whip Whitaker", alcoholic pilot extraordinaire to the ferret-like "Nicole" re-habbing heroin addict. As the two meet for the first time in the hospital stairwell for a smoke, they are all of a sudden joined by a dying cancer patient who is dragging his drip-line apparatus up the stairs, looking for a ciggie to mooch. He is given a whole pack by Whip, and in return, he makes a muddled speech about dying, how good it feels to be alive, and retreats back down the stairs. Another contrived interplay occurs when Whip, looking for cover, visits his injured for life, young co-pilot in the hospital, and things really get out of hand when the co-pilot's young wife keeps interrupting them with "Praise Jesus" utterances, until they all join hands, and the screen mercifully fades to black. And here's a good question...why would Whip's crewmates, who all seemed to know about his history of pre-flight cocaine and alcohol shenanigans, ever want to get in an airplane he's piloting? And are airline execs and union bosses really this corrupt and anxious to get old, drug- addicted pilots off without consequences and back up there? Finally, if you're looking for a real movie about addiction and broken relationships, check out "Crazy Heart" with Jeff Bridges in his Oscar-winning role. It has all the heart and soul, and fine performances that "Flight" does not.