A pilot who is an alcoholic, a cancer patient and a drug addict recovering from a heroin overdose meet in a stairwell. It sounds like the beginning of a lurid joke but this is the world of ‘Flight’, the new film from director Robert Zemeckis that takes a borderline farcical approach to addiction that’s so heavy-handed it could be added to the weight program at a gym.
Whip Whitaker (Denzel Washington) is an airline pilot who successfully crash lands a plane during an emergency. When the authorities come looking for the cause of the accident, Whip is forced to face a few ugly truths about his life.
The introduction to Whip’s world is swift and Zemeckis wastes no time establishing the character waking up with a hangover after a night of heavy drinking who quickly smokes, drinks and snorts his way through the world’s most unbalanced breakfast. The contrast between this rude awakening and the reveal of Whip in full pilots uniform is potent and places doubt in the mind over how his workday is going to play out. It sets the tone well while developing the character with ease.
Zemeckis delivers a riveting flight sequence that places a lot of the camera in the cockpit of the aircraft that gives a good perspective on how the pilots handle the situation. There is no emphasis on mechanical parts breaking loose or shoddy airline ground workers not doing their jobs properly to place the blame somewhere. Watching Whip and his co-pilot take off in a storm looking through the tiny windshield of the aircraft, blinded by rain and clouds, is very unnerving. Despite Whip’s flaws there is no denying his genius behind the controls of an airplane, but the quandary between Whip as a hero or villain arises in the wake of the accident and that’s where the film falls apart.
Washington gives a good performance and there is a scene in a hospital where the actor gives more emotion in one eyeball than most actors achieve in an entire film. The pain and denial that ravages Whip is encapsulated in Washington’s performance despite a few overzealous drunk acting moments. Don Cheadle, Bruce Greenwood and Melissa Leo are wasted as bland corporate types dropping huge plot points in their exposition. Kelly Reilly playing a glamorous yet troubled drug addict comes off the worst with her addiction implied by heavy mascara that looks to have been applied the same manic makeup artist that painted on her all too obvious needle track marks.
Zemeckis must have erased the word “subtlety” from his mind before making ‘Flight’. Everything following the accident is overemphasised and it is best showcased with his selection of music. A scene where someone injects heroin features the Red Hot Chili Peppers anthem of drug dependence “Under the Bridge” (get it, they like drugs) and a drug dealer character played woefully by John Goodman is followed everywhere by music from The Rolling Stones. It may have been easier to just cast Keith Richards in the role (get it, he likes drugs too).
As Whip discusses the fallout from the accident with his co-pilot who is looking for answers in faith, there is a Bible on a table, a crucifix on the wall and his girlfriend continually kisses a cross around her neck while screaming “PRAISE JESUS!” Praise the lord indeed for the sledgehammer of certainty that Zemeckis thrashes the audience with throughout ‘Flight’. Even the wreckage of the aircraft is representative of Whip as a broken man and thankfully there weren’t big flashing red arrows to further hammer home the comparison, broken man, broken plane, nudge-nudge, wink-wink.
‘Flight’ does build momentum to the final act but even in the closing moments of the film it feels like the entire 138 minute running time is leading up to a punch line that’s masquerading as the film’s dramatic zenith. Despite the valiant establishment of a deeply flawed character, Flight wallows in a fantasy world of addiction that’s contrived and overbearing to the point where the idea of excessive alcohol sounds like the solution to wiping this film from memory.
2/5
Cameron Williams
The Popcorn Junkie
Very good review. The movie started out good, but went downhill after the plane crashed. I don’t even remember anymore what the 90 minutes leading to the hearing were all about. This is easily the worst performance ever of Denzel Washington in a movie. Zemeckis was a great director, but apparently has lost his touch. The main problem with these older and very experienced directors is that they have reached godlike status, and that is the killer in any profession. Because nobody dares to tell these guys anymore if something sucks. Their ego is so big that it stands in the way of success, and the only way to go is down. It happens all the time.
Hey Hans, thanks for checking out the review
Thought the movie was actually spot on with the portrayal of an addict. Denzel was a brilliant liar for one, and could not have embodied the addict’s helplessness against his drug of choice any better. The spiritual aspect is not a joke or some add-on by the director either. It’s actually a necessity for the movie and for an addict’s recovery. Whip was clearly denying the existence of any power, but his own. He basically turned his nose up at God (or an act of God) from the crash site to his co-pilot’s hospital bed. Most of the movie had clear purpose and I was glued to it from the onset. I guess you just have to understand the mindset of an addictive personality to get it.
Hey David, thanks for reading the review. Great observations about the film and I’m glad you enjoyed it. One of my favourite recent films about addiction is ‘Smashed’ that I think dealt with the same issues with a little more restraint and told a better story covering very similar ground.
I agree with David. If you’ve had a personal and painful experience with alcoholism (either your own or a spouse/family member), you’ll probably love this film — because it’s arguably the most true, the most accurate depiction of alcoholism to date. It’s extremely powerful and well done. If you don’t like it, it probably just means you don’t get it, because you don’t identify with the experience. That’s no reason to knock a movie.
Your review is spot on.
Really liked your review….I felt the movie trudged through the entire post-crash buildup to the confession of Whip at the hearing. The movie stumbles dealing with the interesting question of how to treat Whip’s actions saving all those people despite being intoxicated and settles on a moral condemnation supplemented with some odd religious symbolism.
Further, I was baffled that Whip felt compelled to confess to a question asking his opinion. The question could have been answered honestly without incriminating her.
“In my opinion she did not drink it” “But what about…?” “I don’t know who did-I was in the cockpit”
I think forcing Whip into confessing by a rough interrogation pinning him or her down would have been better but still not salvaged the film.
What I find frightening is that if Whip had said, “I don’t know, maybe” he would have got away with his criminal actions. Because apparently the NTSB investigators, when looking into a crash, can’t even handle blood tests correctly.
Just smiled at this review. I didn’t like it of course…
Zemeckis must have erased the word “subtlety” from his mind before making ‘Flight’. Everything following the accident is overemphasised and it is best showcased with his selection of music. A scene where someone injects heroin features the Red Hot Chili Peppers anthem of drug dependence “Under the Bridge” (get it, they like drugs) and a drug dealer character played woefully by John Goodman is followed everywhere by music from The Rolling Stones. It may have been easier to just cast Keith Richards in the role (get it, he likes drugs too).”
This was the most stupid part… that’s why you do weak critics and not movies. I’m a drug addict and I have a rolling stones tatoo and I listen to a lot of John Frusciante… that’s how the world is fuck boy!
Congratulations on being a drug addict, that is quite the achievement. Some people become doctors, others become lawyers, and some become drug addicts. Who throw vulgar comments around the Internet, just to show us how low human beings can sink.
Hans, spot on review. Watching this film, I thought the heavy-handed narrative made D.A.R.E. propaganda that middle school kids see seem genuine and cutting edge. I also like how you acknowledge Washington’s performance as believable and impressive. I do think that the few overacted drunk moments weren’t his fault, though. I can see Zemeckis perched in his director’s chair yelling, “Give me MORE, Denzel! Give me….MORE! Act drunker!” Overall, while the film contains some great pieces, “Flight” serves as the supreme example of telling and not showing.
Again, excellent review. I’m subscribing to your page, too.
-Matt
Oops. My fault. I thought Hans was the writer. In that case, Cameron, nice work. Hans, hilarious tooling of cliche drug guy.
I also concur with this 100%. I have possibly taken things a wee bit further in my review on politicoid, if you fancy a read. I just can’t bear the overdone sermonizing…