Flight is a film about an airline pilot and his life after he keeps a plane from crashing and killing everyone onboard. It begins as a nail biting thriller but quickly turns into the polar opposite. Given the marketing of the film the story is a tad bit surprising. Denzel Washington is ‘Whip Whitaker,’ and he carries this movie almost completely on his own. Washington is masterful in his portrayal of this far from perfect man who finds himself at the center of the public eye. What you will soon come to find is that there is much more to his character then what you catch a first glance.
Washington delivers his best performance in years. He is a man who is damaged yet functioning. Through the course of the film he becomes an arrogant, entitled, and selfish man who forces you to question your own loyalty to the character. The story is about redemption and whether or not he has done enough to deserve it. The evolution is hard fought and long, but Washington makes it seamless and is a master at keeping the trust of the audience on this journey. Do not be at all surprised if Denzel gets a Best Actor nod this year.
Other performances of note are that of Don Cheadle as ‘Hugh Lane,’ an attorney that crosses paths with Washington. Adding a much needed lightness to the film is John Goodman with a bigger than life sense of humor. This movie is heavy but is absolutely worthy of putting on your holiday movie schedule.