Denzel Washington is a phenomenal actor. That’s a given. And while we all enjoy his films, it’s been awhile since he has really taken his talents to another level. I enjoyed movies like The Taking of Pelham 123, Unstoppable, Safe House, and The Book of Eli, but none of them brought on new challenges for the veteran actor. I feel like the last two films that really showcased how great Washington can be are Training Day and, more recently, American Gangster. But now we can add Flight to the list.
Flight isn’t just about a plane crash. It marks the beginning of a man who is slowly losing control of his life and doesn’t even notice. It’s up to Washington to carry the film, and he uses his mighty acting muscles to do just that while making it look effortless. Washington plays Capt. Whip Whitaker, a veteran commercial pilot who could probably fly with his eyes closed. But it’s actually worse than that.
He can fly while being drunk and drugged up, and somehow manage to keep it all together – at least it seems that way. Whitaker likes to have his fun with women (including a beautiful flight attendant played by Nadine Velazquez) and his addictions. What appears to be just another normal day at work turns into a horrific nightmare.
While flying to Atlanta, the plane begins to malfunction and starts to nose dive from the sky. Whitaker not only keeps his cool during the whole thing, but he literally flies upside down in order to crash-land the plane. Out of 102 people on the plane, 96 of them lived. Capt. Whitaker is the only pilot who was capable of pulling off such a miracle. Of course, he is seen as a hero by the public. But once things start to be uncovered, more questions arise about the man flying the plane instead of the machine itself.
Once the crash is over, the film changes its focus to Whitaker and the life he has been living. A man who had complete control over his plane thinks he has that same control over his life, but he doesn’t. His marriage is over and he has a son who he barely knows. While an investigation begins on him, the pilots union and the airline want all of this to go away. So, they bring in a cocky lawyer (Don Cheadle) whose “clients don’t go to jail.”
Everyone he needs to be on his side in order to get himself out of this mess are, but Whitaker is a troubled man who is in denial and can’t come to grips with his addiction. The only little bit of light in his life comes from Nicole (Kelly Reilly), a woman who almost died after a drug overdose. Her and Whitaker form this unique relationship and end up living together and while she is trying to keep clean, he doesn’t need her or anyone else’s help. He can do it all by himself. He doesn’t need AA or prayers or even Almighty God himself.
Flight has so many little layers to it. The film shows a guy who saved lives and while the scenario was re-created for 10 other pilots, none of them could do what Whitaker did. He knows what he’s doing when it comes to flying high in the sky. However, while he is praised, six lives were lost and someone or something must be held accountable. The plane crash was a devastating event and, unfortunately, that’s what it took in order for Whitaker to face the truth about himself and force him to do something about it.
Director Robert Zemeckis‘s last live-action film is Cast Away. He has spent the last 12 years focusing on groundbreaking animation films like The Polar Express and Beowulf, but he’s back, and the opening plane sequence that sets up the whole film is powerfully suspenseful. The way Zemeckis captures it all is mesmerizing to see on the big screen. He is a genius when it comes to the technical elements, but he also knows exactly what he’s doing when it comes to the personal side of filmmaking with the story and its characters. It is a balance that he conquers when most directors crumble. The intensity level changes from the crash of the plane to the crash of Capt. Whitaker, but Zemeckis never loses sight of the emotional and spiritual tone of the film.
It’s not just a film about a crash or an addiction drama about a man on a downward spiral. Flight is a riveting tale about morality. It deals with a compelling conflict and keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time. It’s a hell of a ride with Washington in the driver’s seat delivering a stunning and soulful performance that will have you sitting there in pure amazement.
Brandon Vick is a member of The Music City Film Critics’ Association, the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and the star of The Vick’s Flicks Podcast. Follow him on Twitter @SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.
Check out the SoBros Shop. Become a Patron. Give us money for no reason. Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter @SoBrosNetwork. Watch on YouTube.
