The trailer might fool you into thinking this film is something that it's not...

Rating: 6/10 (13 June 2013)

If you've seen the trailer for Flight then you might be under the impression that this film is a thrilling all-speed-ahead drama, and while this is, in part, true, the film is more a searing character-study which explores important moral issues than anything else. Given its director, the acclaimed Robert Zemeckis (the brilliant mind behind Forest Gump, Back to the Future and Cast Away to name a few) this might not come as a surprise, because based on his repertoire of films he seems to relish a thoroughly thought-out character. Yet one defining difference behind this character Whip Whittaker (Denzel Washington) is that he is unlikeable, filled with hubris and infuriating to watch in his self-destruction.
To some this would be a justifiable reason to dislike the film, because without a character we can like or even empathise with how can we enjoy or begin to understand the film or its character? Despite the heroism and bravery of Whittaker in the first act of this film in which he manages to save 96 of the 102 passengers aboard his crumbling aircraft his actions and behaviour afterwards are despicable and colour the audience's perception of him. His aggressiveness to those that try and save him from his inexcusable downward-spiral makes for irritating viewing. You might question why I call it "inexcusable". You might think that this "downward-spiral" is the consequence of the traumatic events of the plane crash. It is not. His alcoholism and substance abuse, which is portrayed by Washington with astonishing reality, is a long-standing and widely known characteristic amongst his work colleagues, which is a shocking thought really. It makes you question not only your own safety, but also how such a character could exist that would put innocent lives at risk.
If you would like to continue reading my thoughts on this film then go here... (www.filmrambler.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/flight.html)