Review: Flight

Seasoned pilot Denzel Washington’s quick thinking and experience manage to pull off a miraculous landing after some big trouble up in the air. This results in the loss of some lives, but less so than might otherwise have been. He saved around a hundred people’s lives, for cryin’ out loud. The problem is, Denzel (who is also unhappily divorced), is an alcoholic and a drug user who was intoxicated at the time, something his newbie co-pilot (Brian Geraghty) suspects right away. But was Denzel’s rough shape what caused the crash? And if not, does it still matter? Could he have saved more lives if sober? Could another pilot have even done as much as Denzel did? Pilots union rep Bruce Greenwood (who knew Denzel from their days in the Navy together) and Denzel’s top lawyer Don Cheadle sure have their work cut out for them if they’re gonna save this man (for their own business-minded interests, in part) from a possible life sentence, especially if the incriminating toxicology report gets out in the investigation. Denzel, meanwhile, simply struggles to remain sober day-to-day. This man is in deep, deep trouble, both external and internal, fighting a disease he has been trying to deny exists within him at all. Kelly Reilly plays a recovering drug addict whom Denzel strikes up a tentative relationship with (whilst relationships with his own son and ex-wife are far pricklier), Melissa Leo plays the lead FAA investigator, John Goodman plays Denzel’s remarkably good-natured drug dealer/enabler, James Badge Dale plays a cancer patient, and Nadine Velazquez plays the air hostess Denzel had been banging, boozing, and snorting with the night before the flight.

 

Of all the 2012 films that had earned top Oscar noms, this Robert Zemeckis (“Back to the Future”, “Forrest Gump”, “Cast Away”) drama scripted by John Gatins seemed to get the least coverage. So when I watched it, going in all I knew was that Denzel played an alcoholic pilot and earned an Oscar nomination for it. Turns out it’s a pretty strong, mostly downbeat story in which Denzel gives his best performance in a very long time. You probably won’t have seen a performance like this from Denzel. He doesn’t quite commit himself to hitting the gutter like Nic Cage did in “Leaving Las Vegas” (the film itself isn’t quite as harsh and realistic and isn’t trying to be) or William H. Macy on “Shameless”, but boy will he still likely shock you with how committed he is to the honesty and degrading nature of such a role. He’s pretty damn powerful in a way completely different from his powerful turns in “Malcolm X” and “The Hurricane”.

 

I do have to point out that our introduction to the character as a boozing, coke-snorting, chick-banging (Yes, you do get to see Nadine Velazquez’s wonderful, splendiferous tits), ex-wife arguing all-round train wreck is a tad overdone. In fact, my only real gripe with the film is that it’s a tad overdone, though mostly in regards to the soundtrack. The scene where Kelly Reilly is taking drugs set to the Red Hot Chili Peppers ‘Under the Bridge’ is unintentionally hilarious. Oh that’s so profound, see ‘coz it’s a song about drugs...yeah. Other song selections seem to be based around whatever is in Mr. Zemeckis’ CD collection. I love ‘Gimme Shelter’ by the Stones, ‘What’s Goin’ On?’ by Marvin Gaye, and ‘The Letter’ by Joe Cocker, but what the hell are they doing in this film? Did John Goodman have to enter to ‘Sympathy for the Devil’? Why would a scene of Denzel snorting coke be underscored by ‘The Letter’? Because Joe Cocker has had past substance abuse issues too? So what? It calls attention to itself and takes you out of some pretty strong drama.

 

Meanwhile, although Brian Geraghty is excellent in the opening scenes as a clearly concerned and fearful co-pilot, his second scene is marred somewhat by the idiotic caricature of his religious zealot wife who literally yells ‘Praaaaaise Jeezzusss!’ like she’s Pensatucky from “Orange is the New Black” or something. It’s unintentionally comedic, unnecessary, and if intended to be pro-Christianity, a complete failure (Nadine Velazquez’s fantastic breasts, however, were almost impressive enough to make an atheist like me praise Jebus).

 

The only other issue I have with the film is that although John Goodman’s lively performance is highly enjoyable, I think his character is jarring with the rest of the film. This guy is the most good-natured drug dealer you’ve ever seen...in a film that is absolutely not a fun ride whatsoever, and the character really shouldn’t be good-natured at all. He’s quite a horrible enabler, and the scene where Don Cheadle and Bruce Greenwood require his assistance in readying Denzel for his big court date just plays out bizarrely. Goodman’s terrific, but what the hell is the character itself doing in this film? Something is off about it. Other good performances are delivered by James Badge Dale, and a thankfully restrained Melissa Leo (in a thankless part).

 

Zemeckis once again gives us a plane crash, but this one’s not as effective as “Cast Away” (the benchmark for such scenes), relying way too much on tactics right out of a Lionel Ritchie music video. It was cool in 1987, but not so cool now. It’s a fascinating idea for a film, though, and it’s a subject often in the news. The Denzel character really makes one conflicted. I mean, did his substance abuse cause the crash? Nope, but he was intoxicated nonetheless, and people died. One would think that at least some penalty is in order, even though his piloting prowess saved lives too. Could he have saved more if he were sober, though? Very complex and interesting stuff, and since it’s Denzel, the audience also feels innately sympathetic towards him, muddying things even further. In another actor’s hands, you might not have given a shit about this guy’s plight. Great casting decision and Denzel has his working boots on. He didn’t deserve to win the Oscar, but he deserved it even less for “Training Day” and actually got it for that one, instead of “Malcolm X”. Funny how that works.

 

It’s a good film that could’ve been better, though I certainly think it gets the final judgement right on Denzel’s character. I wish the film weren’t so heavy-handed in other areas, then it’d be an even stronger film. I mean, did Denzel really need to have a giant jug of alcohol? Really, Mr. Zemeckis?

 

Rating: B-