An airline pilot saves a flight from crashing, but an investigation into the malfunctions reveals something troubling.
It’s all sadly undone by that sledgehammer of an ending.
[Flight] settles into a holding pattern around a fairly ordinary and obvious addiction story, with a landing that can be spotted miles away.
Flight may begin on a glorious high, but the long hangover that follows is a prime example of mainstream Hollywood dramatic filmmaking at its most cartoonish.
The first third is terrific, though. After that the flaws are forgivable (bar Gimme Shelter's 345th appearance).
Some of the plotting is a little neat and simplistic but this is finely-made, adult filmmaking that makes you think.
A welcome return to live-action filmmaking for Zemeckis, who hasn’t lost his knack for a brilliant shot or for extracting great performances. It may not exactly be a first-class experience throughout, but there’s nothing wrong with premium economy.
Zemeckis has put together a marvel of armrest-gripping panic in the opening half-hour, and all praise to him for it. But from that high point the film cruises and, despite small pockets of turbulence on the way, makes a secure landing in Recovery, USA. Denzel's got his wings back, and he's ascending once more.
Flight is one of those films which starts to come to pieces when you start thinking about it afterwards, but with Zemeckis at the controls, it's a very enjoyable watch. Maybe not in-flight, however.
Zemeckis’s film is morally provocative and bookended by genius; perhaps it is the first psychological disaster movie. The truth is bearing down on all of us like a jetliner in freefall: the sooner we look up, the better.
Denzel Washington gives a towering performance in his least sympathetic role to date.
For every one of its smart, surprising scenes, there's another conventional and sentimental one.
Worth seeing for its opening act and satisfying, if predictable, ending redemption yo-yo; but like John Goodman’s scenes, these elements take second place to a preachy, flabby, lesser film.
It’s funny how falling feels like flying... for a little while.
Flight starts strong, but after a soaring airplane sequence it levels out into something less remarkable.
Hitting highs, showing depth
A pilot's view on Flight
General release. Check local listings for show times.
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