Whip Whitaker (Denzel Washington) is a respected pilot with a terrible alcohol and drug problem, although he never admits to it. Prior to take off, he uses cocaine to wake himself up and secretly mixes some vodka into his orange juice. The aircraft descends into a dive as a result of failure of the control systems. Whip has no other choice but to roll the plane upside down to stop the dive and the plane crashes into a field leaving him unconscious.
Denzel Washington as pilot Whip Whitaker. Source: Collider
96 of 102 passengers and crew members survive, but clearly this is an event that is heavily investigated, and Whip himself is questioned for his intake of alcohol prior to takeoff. His severe alcoholism prevents him from forming any real friendships with anyone aside from his drug dealer Harling (John Goodman).
The title of the film is not necessarily an accurate representation about the themes of the film. The story may begin with flight, but it's more about dealing with the consequences of your actions and how they affect the people around you. From his lawyers (Don Cheadle) to his lovers (Kelly Reilly), Whip's unstable personality is hurting more people than he knows.
Denzel Washington's performance was nothing short of incredible. Compelling and provocative, this is one of his most complex, and best, performances yet. Whip is tortured and broken, and Washington makes us sympathize and pity him. It's tough to make people like a character that is, quite frankly, a complete asshole. But Denzel did exactly that. His character, no matter how bad of a taste he leaves in your mouth, is still one that you want to root for throughout the entire film.
Zemeckis always does amazing work and Flight is no different. Substance-abuse is a prominent problem in today's society. Flight showcases this topic in a way not seen previously, although some may question the realism of a pilot being able to fly while intoxicated. The screenplay was thought provoking and incredibly smart. The way the flight scene was directed and written made my stomach turn and left me completely stunned. It was absolutely terrifying, which in it's own way was profoundly artistic and captivating.
Rating: 8.5/10
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