Duckface Denzel in A Confused and Boring Mess of a Film

Rating: 3/10 (2 March 2013)

I normally only write a review when moved to do so because I love a film, or hate a film. Unfortunately for this film it was the latter case. This film was tedious, confused, boring and uninteresting. It didn't seem to know whether it wanted you to like or hate the protagonist, whether it was trying to be dramatic, funny and quirky or cool - far too many slow-mo scenes of Denzel Washington strolling around in shades looking cool after a drink and drug binge - and in the end it is none of those things. There's only so much you can watch of some guy drinking himself to death - although he doesn't seem to exhibit any physical problems, which is strange. This is no Leaving Las Vegas.
There doesn't seem to be much point to any of the films characters who are all one-dimensional to say the least. Even John Goodman's appearance couldn't save this one - his character looks and sounds ridiculous and this is the first time that I would say he simply was very unconvincing in a film. Similarly, Denzel Washington seems to spend most of the film playing drunk badly or pulling this strange 'duck face' that he has developed in recent years in the moments that are supposed to be awkward or emotional - it is a poor performance from one of my favourite actors.
Add to all of this some very odd and badly handled references to a more philosophical side of the situation with people constantly referring to 'God', trying to shoe-horn in some fate vs. free-will ramblings into an already messy film, left me very relieved when 'Flight' limped to a predictable conclusion. I would not recommend it, it is a poor, boring mess of a film.