Flight (*** out of ****)

This is a return to form for two particular individuals. Denzel Washington playing Whip Whitaker gives his first great performance since American Gangster. Also director Robert Zemeckis makes his first live action movie since Cast Away (the guy sure does love plane crashes) which was over a decade ago. Both actor and director do some of their finest work of their careers (at moments), but in the end Flight doesn't all add up.

Whip Whitaker abuses alcohol. The film opens with him waking up, still drunk and needing to do cocaine to get up for work. He is a pilot and while good at his job, he has terrible qualities as a person. Early in the film comes the event that shapes what exactly this film will be about. The plane Whip captains is nose diving and ready to crash. Through some miracle work he manages to pull a maneuver and save the vast majority of the souls on board. The flight scene may be the most thrilling work Zemeckis has done as a director. After the crash they find in a blood test that Whip had alcohol in his system. If the root of the crash isn't determined to be a mechanical error, Whip faces life in prison. Much of the focus of the film is on Whip's alcohol problems and the people in his life. His problem affects his lawyer (Don Cheadle), his union representative (Bruce Greenwood), a former heroin addict (Kelly Reilly) he strikes a friendship with, his family, and of course his drug dealer (John Goodman).

The film is unapologetic look at a man battling his inner demons as his life falls apart. Washington plays Whip so convincingly that his struggle is hard to look away from, even though the audience rather not witness such turmoil. At two and a half hours, Flight tells a strong story, but a complicated one. Due to its run time there are scenes that are included that seem puzzling. Many scenes (more than what should usual) come off as funny when the situation probably shouldn't be. I wasn't sure if this was Zemeckis' intent, but it throws off the pacing of the film. I shouldn't be feeling anger while trying to understand Whip to only a few minutes latter see a scene that might be included in a dark comedy. A particular scene featuring James Badge Dale as a cancer patient is confusing, it could have been completely cut and the film would've have the same effect. There are several scenes that don't seem all too important and somewhat useless (I hate saying it but the thought crossed my mind) Whip also by films end makes a decision/realization that seems logical but his character didn't seem to develop there just yet. Still Flight is very good, even great for the most part. It' just confused on what it's trying to be.

*** out of ****