Flight

Der Verlauf des Fluges: das erste Drittel ist audiovisuell brilliant und voll Humor, der so schwarz wie eine Black Box und auch voller Versprechungen ist und ferner geradezu vor Kerosindämpfen strotzt. Dann bleiben allerdings die Klappen hängen und der Abstieg beginnt: langsame Dialoge, unzureichend entwickelte Charaktere, ein dürres "investigatives" Drama, dessen Abbildung durch den zerfallenden Protagonisten verdrängt wird, und die den Zuschauer hereinlässt - obwohl ja Denzel erstklassig aufgedunsen herüberkommt und der Verlierer in ihm klar zu erkennen ist - eben nichts, was einen an der Geschichte packen könnte. Vielmehr geraten wir in leichte Turbulenzen der Vorhersehbarkeit. Des Rätsels Lösung ist jedoch gar nicht unnütz, es hat Biss und Drive ... wobei der Film im Folgenden dies mit Nase in einem lemonadeähnlichen Finale in den Boden hineinrammt, welches in der Tat die gesamte Bemühung um eine Deheroisierung und moralische Zweideutigkeit in kleine Stücke zerfliegen lässt. Bei jeder Predigt braucht es mindestens einen gebesserten Sünder, das wusste bereits der gute alte Soldat Schweik, aber wenn jemand schon beginnt, am Altar herumzuschreien, ist dies noch kein Zeichen der Erleuchtung Gottes. Eher jenes einer erstklassigen Amateurtheatergruppe, in diesem Falle in Form eines Blickfangs beim Publikum, welchem die beispielhafte "Selbstkritik und innige Predigt" gefällt. Meiner Ansicht nach stumpft dies sämtliche Klingen ab, welche Flug 93 überhaupt nur beizubehalten vermag. Dennoch ist´s und bleibt´s ein sympathischer Film, welcher dank einiger deftiger Momente meines Erachtens (abgesehen von den ersten vierzig Minuten, zum Beispiel in Form des Figur von John Goodman oder Zemeckis‘ immer noch elegant geführter Regie) auf sicherer Flughöhe zwischen drei und vier Sternen bleibt. (11.02.2013)

Zemeckis lives! After three techno-animation flicks, he’s finally back to live action with an ambitious drama with Denzel Washington in the main role. But it’s not really reason enough to uncork the bubbly. Flight is nothing more than a slightly above average film hurt by a too long run and going in circles (I drink. I won’t drink. I drink again. Now I won’t drink again, really), and the pointless subplot with Kelly Reilly, who gets into Denzel’s life out of nowhere, only to equally fast disappear. The plane crash scene is breathtaking, though, and one of the best of its kind I’ve ever seen, it’s a pity that it’s right at the beginning and the film has nothing else to climb with, on the contrary, it dives down from there; like a plane. (10.01.2013)

Denzel is cool! His nomination for the golden baldy is deserved. Although Flight claims that booze is bad, it basically says that cocaine is fine (if you have a tendency to overdo it with booze). I have one problem with this picture, I would have ended it after the first “no" before the commission. Then it wouldn’t have been such a propaganda stunt. Robert Zemeckis was missing in the classic movies genre, and his talent speaks for itself. His intimate scenes are sensational and he does visual masterpieces (plane falling) even better. Next time, a little shorter and pick a slightly better screenplay. Praise be to Jesus! (11.01.2013)

The authentically tattered Denzel Washington turns in a great acting performance. Robert Zemeckis directs as if he himself is sobering up after a (CGI) bender. The timeless story of (in)voluntary dependence and the regaining of lost control is sometimes told in a unfocused way and very slowly so that we can grasp every idea conveyed to us and almost undramatically (for example, the suspense of the airborne introduction is weakened by the second storyline with Nicole). Whereas the first, more action-oriented half of the film, which promises a quick transformation of the protagonist, is still nicely rhythmised with alternating quiet scenes and scenes underscored with modern music, everything blends together in the second half and the hope for change diminishes. After being jolted by the plane crash, thanks to which he literally gets his feet back on the ground, Whip is determined to get his life in order. However, his determination is perceptibly weakened by the necessity of facing his own misconduct and waging a battle whose cause he considers to be nonsensical. Though Whip did a heroic deed, he is not a Hollywood-style movie hero. In a crime thriller, he would be both the culprit and the investigator, and Washington succeeds in brilliantly portraying this inner ambivalence even though he wasn’t given many big dramatic moments or the possibility to bring clarity to his character’s gradual transformation. He doesn’t undergo continuous development toward being better and, as such, he does not deserve sympathy. The director is interested in him without pathos, without empathy, as if he is merely an object to be observed; there is definitely nothing cool about his constant intoxication (so there are no subjective shots, no boozy sequences with rock music).  SPOILER – With views from the outside, when Whip becomes a witness to his own actions (through television news reports), Zemeckis lays the groundwork for the final revelation of who has (apparently) held the narrative perspective throughout the film. The film also comes across exactly like a sincere confession by a reformed sinner who despises his former self. – END SPOILER. Flight is an exemplary “crisis” film. Somewhat naïvely, but without exaggeration or the cheapest screenwriting tricks (those don’t come until the end), it warns against seeking solace in drugs and alcohol. Though the film has hints of a religious message, deliverance ultimately doesn’t come in the form of God (at whose fanatical following Flight glances askew), but simply and ordinarily in the form of family. Cynicism aside, even such films as this are necessary today. 70% (21.02.2013)

It was impossible not to know about this movie before its premiere. You see, I found the premise really appealing anytime I thought about it. I mean who wouldn’t like to see an airplane pilot save most of the passengers and crew with an absolutely incredible maneuver, all this while drunk and as high as a kite? The scene of the plane crash is so brutal that I could barely breathe in the first thirty minutes of the movie. Then the movie moves on to the investigation and at that point I sort of thought that the film would slow down somewhat. It did, but surprisingly, it didn’t get boring. For a movie that takes two hours and fifteen minutes, I must say ‘good job!’. On top of that, Denzel delivers a very good performance. I haven’t seen a person dissected so naturally in a movie for a long time. Absurdity mixes with reality, but the result and the final scene were definitely worth it. (21.02.2014)