Trailer Tuesday: Flight

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Finally! After tinkering around with motion-capture animation for the past decade - and creeping out a lot of people with his "Uncanny Valley" creations (The Polar Express, Beowulf, A Christmas Carol), Robert Zemeckis is back on live-action filmmaking turf... with R-rated drama Flight.

Denzel Washington - who we know pretty much never makes an awful film - stars in this tale of an airline captain who successfully pulls off an impossible crash landing, saving the lives of everyone on board. This turns him into a hero. Unfortunately, his actions also put a spotlight on his secret struggle with alcoholism and destructive behaviour. John Goodman, Don Cheadle and Bruce Greenwood also star.


Granted Zemeckis's recent foray into animation hasn't been as successful as his other big screen efforts, but one quick glance at his filmography reminds you that he's a master of making escapist blockbuster entertainment for grown-ups.

Flight released in North America back in early November, where it made over $80 million (it cost in the region of $30 million) and racked up an aggregated review score of 77% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. The film is apparently far from "fun" but it is a fine, thought-provoking character study of an addict in denial. Veering straight towards unlikeable-but-understandable turf, Washington is in Oscar-worthy form yet again.

Flight opens in South Africa on 25 January.

Comments

James Preston said…
Great writing as always. Enjoyed the review! :)
11:07 AM
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