Sullying his good name

The last time director Robert Zemeckis made a film involving live human beings was 2000's Cast Away. That was the story of Tom Hanks trying to go through life after surviving a plane crash. In his latest effort, Flight, Zemeckis once again gives us a tale of a plane crash survivor and his life in the aftermath. The focal survivor in this film is the airplane's pilot, Whip Whitaker, played by Denzel Washington.

In this case, the events leading up to the crash are just as important as the ones that proceed it. We learn quickly that Whip has a problem with alcohol and drugs. He not only drinks prior to the flight, but on the plane as well. During one flight, a mechanical problem with the plane occurs and Whip is forced to flip the plane mid-air in order to land the plane with minimal damage. Without the maneuver the plane would have crashed and killed everyone instantly. But thanks to his efforts, there was minimal loss of life and Whip becomes a hero

It is only when the crash comes under investigation that Whip's problems with alcohol come to light. From there, the film examines in detail Whip's demons and the effects it has on those around him. Whenever a film tackles the subject of addiction, the results can be vary wildly from overblown melodrama to sobering realism. For the most part, Washington is very effective in his performance. What makes his portrayal so fascinating is the way he is able to be so functional in most aspects of his life despite his crippling dependency on booze. Given the subject matter, it would not surprise me in the least if this earns Washington another Best Actor nomination come Oscar time

But for as strong of a performance as Washington gives, I couldn't help but feel cheated that the film chose to strictly focus on it. I would have preferred the story to be more mystery-centered, leaving the audience wondering if Whip had been drunk while flying the plane and if that was the result of the crash. That aspect gets thrown to the side in favor of an uninteresting subplot involving Whip forming a relationship with a fellow addict (Kelly Reilly). More time should have been spent with either Don Cheadle, who plays a lawyer representing Whip, or John Goodman who plays hippie who helps supply Whip with drugs. These are characters that Cheadle and Goodman have played before, but they are so good at what they do you can't help but want to see their screentime maximized.

As with Cast Away, the story ultimately lets down what would have otherwise been a good movie. Clearly Zemeckis knows what he's doing when it comes to visual effects. The scenes involving the plane crash is harrowing in the way it is depicted. Those who are uneasy with flying to begin with will likely want to stay away from this movie. However, seems to have trouble sticking the landing, no pun intended, when it comes to finishing his movies. With Cast Away, he opted to go for a realistic, ambiguous finish when that story desperately needed a feel-good Hollywood ending. In Flight, he delivers the exact opposite problem. Up until the ending, this movie is a grim, realistic portrayal of an alcoholic. Then in the closing minutes things gets wrapped up in a tidy, saccharine manner that would be more fitting of a movie made for Lifetime.

There's a lot to like about Flight, but like its protagonist, it is deeply flawed. On the weight of the acting performances and visually stunning crash scenes, I'd say this movie is worthy of a recommendation. It helps, though, to come into this movie knowing what you can expect to see so you can better appreciate what the film is trying to accomplish. Even if he failed to soar to new heights, Zemeckis manages to keep the movie cruising at a consistent level of entertainment. Grade: B

2012 Fall Movie Preview (November)

FLIGHT (November 2)
Plot: "Flight" tells the redemption story of "Whip" (Washington), a commercial airline pilot who pulls off a heroic feat of flying in a damaged plane, saving 98 lives on a flight carrying 106 people. While the world begs to embrace him as a true American Hero, the everyman struggles with this label as he is forced to hold up to the scrutiny of an investigation that brings into question his behavior the night before the doomed flight.

Quick thoughts: There are few people who have as consistent of a track record when it comes to good films as Denzel Washington, so I would expect nothing less here again. As usual he's chosen a film with a storyline that feels both fresh and familiar. As an added bonus, this marks director Robert Zemeckis' first effort behind the camera for a live action movie since 2000's Cast Away - another film that I loved. If it doesn't quite get up to the level of Oscar contender, I have no doubt it'll at leas serve as solid entertainment.


LINCOLN (November 9)
Plot: Steven Spielberg directs two-time Academy Award winner Daniel Day-Lewis in "Lincoln," a revealing drama that focuses on the 16th President's tumultuous final months in office. In a nation divided by war and the strong winds of change, Lincoln pursues a course of action designed to end the war, unite the country and abolish slavery. With the moral courage and fierce determination to succeed, his choices during this critical moment will change the fate of generations to come.

Quick thoughts: Unlike Flight, this one has all sorts of crazy high expectations when it comes to the awards season. You have Daniel Day Lewis completely transforming himself into the role of Honest Abe. Plus you have Steven Spielberg going back to his sweet spot of the historical genre. I'm sure some will be bored by the subject material, but I can't wait to be riveted.


SKYFALL (November 9)
Plot: Daniel Craig is back as Ian Fleming's James Bond 007 in "Skyfall," the 23rd adventure in the longest-running film franchise of all time. In "Skyfall," Bond's loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.

Quick thoughts: Do I really need to say anything here? It should be pretty obvious at this point, that I'm dying to see this film. These last two months before its release will feel painstakingly long, but I know it will be worth it. Thankfully I've got all the previous 22 films to help me through the wait.


WRECK-IT RALPH (November 2)
Plot: Walt Disney Animation Studios take moviegoers on a hilarious, arcade-game-hopping journey in "Wreck-It Ralph." Ralph (voice of John C. Reilly) is tired of being overshadowed by Fix-It Felix (voice of Jack McBrayer), the "good guy" star of their game who always gets to save the day. But after decades doing the same thing and seeing all the glory go to Felix, Ralph decides he's tired of playing the role of a bad guy. He takes matters into his own massive hands and sets off on a game-hopping journey across the arcade through every generation of video games to prove he's got what it takes to be a hero.

Quick thoughts: Disney cartoons that are not made by Pixar can often be hit or miss. Having said that, they certainly have a unique hook to the story they're trying to tell here by having it set within the world of arcade games. If the film is intelligent and appeal to adults and kids alike, then this could be a major winner at the box office.


OTHER POSSIBLE FILMS OF INTEREST
Anna Karenina (November 16)
Life of Pi (November 21)
Rise of the Guardians (November 21)
Silver Linings Playbook (November 21)

The plane truth

We got more trailers coming at ya. This time it's a preview for the first live-action film directed by Robert Zemeckis in over a decade. Flight is the fictional tale of a heroic effort of a pilot (Denzel Washington) to avoid a tragic plane crash that gets marred by the discovery that the pilot had been drinking prior to the flight and may have caused the accident in the first place.