The Film
In a few short weeks, Denzel Washington could walk away with the Best Actor Oscar for Flight. With Daniel Day-Lewis snagging just about every acting award out there for his portrayal in Lincoln, it seems like a bit of a longshot. However, Washington's name is on the card. In other words, you pretty much know what you're in for with Flight.
Washington stars as William "Whip" Whitaker, an airline pilot with a penchant for liquor and cocaine -- and preferably at the same time. That's pretty much the only way he can function both in and outside of his job. Did I mention that he's a pilot? Bad decisions aside, it's on this nifty combo that he manages to save almost an entire plane full of people from crashing into the ground.
Now, I have to admit that I'm not the world's best flier, so I was reaching for the airsick bag within the first 3 minutes of the movie. It's a stomach-turning few moments there. However, the aftermath is when things start to get truly tense, as Whip tries to navigate through an NTSB investigation and a romantic relationship with Nicole (Kelly Reilly), who just so happens to be a recovering heroin addict.
Between Castaway and Flight, director Robert Zemeckis has pretty much perfected a frequent flier's worst nightmare. However, that's sort of a blip in this movie. Most of it is about the aftermath, with notable performances by Don Cheadle, Bruce Greenwood and John Goodman. Still, Washington is piloting this film and it's one of his best performances in years.
Want to take another ride with this movie? Check out Joe Lozito's theatrical review of Flight.
The Picture
Paramount has a winner in more ways than one with Flight. The 2.39:1 image is impressive throughout, even in the film's haziest, most chaotic moments. At the beginning of the film, the rain running down the plane's windows is detailed and that type of imagery doesn't stop after takeoff. The faces in the film, from Denzel Washington's beat-up eye to Kelly Reilly's freckles, all look spectacular. The color palette is also a strong one. It should also be noted that this film has a lot of locations and the image adjusts perfectly to every single one of them.
The Sound
The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is even more phenomenal than the image. It's the type of track where you wish they had gone for the extra two channels. The plane crash is a crazy collection of the engine, the rattling, the screams and other chaos. It's so enveloping, it's stomach-turning. It's also a blip in the movie, but the track doesn't let up otherwise, filling the soundfield with thunder, rain, screeching car wheels, and the film's classic rock-heavy soundtrack.
The Extras
For such a high-profile movie, Paramount really skimped on this release's extras. There's a Q&A and a trio of short featurettes. That said, the gem of the lot is "Anatomy of a Plane Crash," which dissects the film's most memorable scene in just under 8 minutes.
Final Thoughts
Extras aside, Flight is an intense film helmed by one of the most talented actors working today. Even at his worst, Denzel Washington can put butts in the seats. After this movie, it may not be airline seats, but still. His performance is a must-see, which is matched up nicely with an equally compelling audio and video presentation. Enjoy.
Product Details
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