I have never used drugs. But, I have seen quite a few movies where drugs (and drug use) were well, prominently displayed. Now, hold on. I realize this is like saying, Well, I've never had sex. But, I do have the internet.
Obviously, the experience of watching doesn't exactly hold a candle to doing, right? Right. Though, to be fair, there is a level of education and insight to seeing such acts on the (big) screen. For example, say I've got my boss' ladyfriend overdosing on heroin in my living room, right? This is simple. I jam a needle full of adrenalin in her heart, naturally. But what if I'm in charge of an American jagoan who has gone on a major bender the night before an important hearing? Oh, wait. I know this one too.
Flight is an incredible film. Despite having heard nothing but great things, for whatever reason I was relatively indifferent as my sister and I sat down to watch it this past Tuesday. It took less than a minute, but believe me, I was hooked. Sure, a screen full of titties always helps (not to mention Wally Cleaver's little brother), but the film is loaded with great characters, great scenes and utterly fantastic performances. And that's not even including the guy that King Kong ain't got shit on.
Denzel. There's not much more positive to say about him that hasn't already been said, but he has delivered yet another truly epic performance. His Whip Whitaker doesn't do anything half-assed. He's an incredible pilot, who's also incredibly f--ked up. He's charming, he's outgoing and he's impossibly good at what he does (all qualities of many of Washington's roles), but otherwise - he's a mess. An absolute train-wreck of a person. And while maybe Whip could have lived his miserably doomed life in relative peace, everything changes the moment the plane he was piloting crashes in spectacular fashion.
I used to think that the plane crash sequence in Cast Away was the ultimate tragic scene in its gut-wrenching realism. Not even close. The crash in Flight is possibly the worst thing I have ever laid my eyes on. I really don't think I took a breath during it. And at the end, even though we all knew what was coming, I was almost in tears. I have been on probably a hundred airplanes and imagined a countless variety of horrible things happening, but to see it so vividly depicted on the big screen? Terrifying. But, right in the middle of the absolute shit, is Denzel Washington, kicking ass and taking names. He puts everybody in the plane on his coke and vodka-fueled shoulders and saves the f--king day. It's one of my favorite scenes ever.
And while almost everyone on board survived the crash, there was one major casualty, that being the morality of everyone involved. But somehow, coming out of the wreckage intact, is Whip's ego. Which was pretty impressive going in.
Imagine if someone saved your life. What would you let them get away with? And for how long? It's okay, I'll help you with this. Everything and forever are the answers you're looking for. It puts such an immense burden on everyone surrounding Whip, it's devastating at times. But, it's also fascinating, too.
More devastating than fascinating, are those two Business Class fools, the Yays and Boos. Business Class? Well, they can't fly coach, their butts are too big.
Just don't sit near the back of the plane while you watch it. Trust me.
Obviously, the experience of watching doesn't exactly hold a candle to doing, right? Right. Though, to be fair, there is a level of education and insight to seeing such acts on the (big) screen. For example, say I've got my boss' ladyfriend overdosing on heroin in my living room, right? This is simple. I jam a needle full of adrenalin in her heart, naturally. But what if I'm in charge of an American jagoan who has gone on a major bender the night before an important hearing? Oh, wait. I know this one too.
Denzel. There's not much more positive to say about him that hasn't already been said, but he has delivered yet another truly epic performance. His Whip Whitaker doesn't do anything half-assed. He's an incredible pilot, who's also incredibly f--ked up. He's charming, he's outgoing and he's impossibly good at what he does (all qualities of many of Washington's roles), but otherwise - he's a mess. An absolute train-wreck of a person. And while maybe Whip could have lived his miserably doomed life in relative peace, everything changes the moment the plane he was piloting crashes in spectacular fashion.
I used to think that the plane crash sequence in Cast Away was the ultimate tragic scene in its gut-wrenching realism. Not even close. The crash in Flight is possibly the worst thing I have ever laid my eyes on. I really don't think I took a breath during it. And at the end, even though we all knew what was coming, I was almost in tears. I have been on probably a hundred airplanes and imagined a countless variety of horrible things happening, but to see it so vividly depicted on the big screen? Terrifying. But, right in the middle of the absolute shit, is Denzel Washington, kicking ass and taking names. He puts everybody in the plane on his coke and vodka-fueled shoulders and saves the f--king day. It's one of my favorite scenes ever.
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| Two men you'd want in your corner? Greenwood and Cheadle. |
Imagine if someone saved your life. What would you let them get away with? And for how long? It's okay, I'll help you with this. Everything and forever are the answers you're looking for. It puts such an immense burden on everyone surrounding Whip, it's devastating at times. But, it's also fascinating, too.
More devastating than fascinating, are those two Business Class fools, the Yays and Boos. Business Class? Well, they can't fly coach, their butts are too big.
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| Here comes the banana boat! |
Yaaaaaaaaaay!
- Let me offer up a legitimate contender for best opening scene ever. Coke, weed, and full frontal? Sounds like one Hell of a pre-flight shindig.
- Next time I can see a member of the flight crew addressing those of us in the cabin, I'm going to make sure I can see both of their hands.
- No lie. I experienced every emotion possible during the crash scene. Every one.
- The black box comment suggestion crushed me. Intense.
- As pictured above, John F--king Goodman. Sure, he's four-fifths Jeffrey Lebowski here, but I loved every second he was on the screen. This guy is a solid friend. Well, for a drug dealing jerk-off...
- ...who brings you a copy of Assmasters and instructs you to stroke it all day. Classy.
- The cancer patient they meet in the stairwell. This actor delivered one of the best one-scenes in recent memory. My cancer might get cancer. Seriously, outside of Donnie Wahlberg in The Sixth Sense, I can recall few actors who've kicked as much ass with so little screen time.
- Not only is the soundtrack pretty kickass, this flick also features the best elevator music ever, too.
- This movie could easily be an intro-level college film class on symbolism all by itself. I think the continually stressed act of God applies at least a dozen times. There's a certain open door I'm thinking of...
- And finally, the morning of is probably one of my favorite scenes as well. Everything has gone completely to shit, and then there's this moment of clarity/insanity. Everyone throws away everything they've stood for. Even Cee-lo.
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| Only Denzel makes cokehead/alcoholic prick seem like a real catch. |
Booo!
- The way I remember it, the redheaded chick wasn't prominently featured in the previews. That was probably a good call. Because despite being easy on the eyes, her whole arc was weak and slightly uninteresting.
- Legal loopholes. Here, it was all smiles and rainbows, but in reality, it's some major bullshit.
- This flick features a few too many endings. Though it would have been the biggest pro drug ending ever, I would've loved for this flick to end about five minutes earlier (right before the hearing would've been great).
Just don't sit near the back of the plane while you watch it. Trust me.