IF YOU make the mistake of giving Denzel Washington a role that demands his digging deep within himself to portray something he doesn't do in real life, he'll excel.
IF YOU make the mistake of giving Denzel Washington a role that demands his digging deep within himself to portray something he doesn't do in real life, he'll excel.
That's a guarantee and that's what he does in Flight, in which he plays a brilliant, controversial pilot, William "Whip" Whitaker.
Whip is a drug addict and an alcoholic - and the worst stunt he pulls, is binging on cocaine the night before he flies a jet carrying 102 passengers.
That's not all.
He has the balls to drink on the job - yep, in the plane while it's in flight.
The problem with Whip is that he knows too well that he's an excellent pilot, but he at least cares about the safety of his patrons.
Be that as it may, his drug and booze weaknesses make him sloppy when it comes to performing his duties and he lets fate do the rest.
For instance, though heavily hung over, he steers the plane through a turbulent takeoff, then takes a nap, leaving co-pilot Ken Evans (Brian Gehaghy) to work alone.
When he wakes up from a deep slumber the plane is nose-diving to a sure crash. But Whip does a commendable job when he rolls it upside down and crash-lands it, saving 96 passengers.
How he does it is indescribable bravery, but then what else can you expect from a high pilot?
That's why he finds himself testifying on why the plane crashed in the first place.
Whip can't live with himself because the crash killed Evans and flight attendant Katenina Marquez (Nadine Velazquez), with whom he had had a sexual relationship.
As Whip, Washington will compel you to be on his side and feel sorry for him throughout the movie.
The funny thing is, he says he never had a sip of alcohol during the shooting of Flight, yet he pulls off the act of being a drunk and a druggie so well. He's the man.
Fellow cast members are outstanding too. Don Cheadle plays Whip's lawyer, Hugh Lang, and he's a super legal eagle.
Whip's drug supplier, Harlings May, is in John Goodman's chubby hands and what a display.
As to whether Whip is exonerated in the hearing or not, that, my dear flick lover, you are gonna have to go to the cinema to see for yourself. The turn of events will surprise you.
The script is out of this world and that's why the screenwriter has been nominated for this year's Oscar.
Of course, Washington is up for the Best Actor Award too at the 85th Academy Awards.
He already has two Oscars under his belt - one as Best Supporting Actor in Glory (1989) and Best Actor in Training Day (2001).
Title: Flight
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Screenwriter: John Gatins
Cast: Denzel Washington, Don Cheadle, Kelly Reily, John Goodman, Bruce Greenwood, Melissa Leo, Brian Gehaghty, Tamara Tunie, Nadine Velazquez, James Badge Dale and Gaarcelle Beauvais
Genre: Drama
Age restriction: 16 PG
Running time: 2 hour 15 minutes
Washington pulls off a masterstroke - MOVIE REVIEW
IF YOU make the mistake of giving Denzel Washington a role that demands his digging deep within himself to portray something he doesn't do in real life, he'll excel.
IF YOU make the mistake of giving Denzel Washington a role that demands his digging deep within himself to portray something he doesn't do in real life, he'll excel.
That's a guarantee and that's what he does in Flight, in which he plays a brilliant, controversial pilot, William "Whip" Whitaker.
Whip is a drug addict and an alcoholic - and the worst stunt he pulls, is binging on cocaine the night before he flies a jet carrying 102 passengers.
That's not all.
He has the balls to drink on the job - yep, in the plane while it's in flight.
The problem with Whip is that he knows too well that he's an excellent pilot, but he at least cares about the safety of his patrons.
Be that as it may, his drug and booze weaknesses make him sloppy when it comes to performing his duties and he lets fate do the rest.
For instance, though heavily hung over, he steers the plane through a turbulent takeoff, then takes a nap, leaving co-pilot Ken Evans (Brian Gehaghy) to work alone.
When he wakes up from a deep slumber the plane is nose-diving to a sure crash. But Whip does a commendable job when he rolls it upside down and crash-lands it, saving 96 passengers.
How he does it is indescribable bravery, but then what else can you expect from a high pilot?
That's why he finds himself testifying on why the plane crashed in the first place.
Whip can't live with himself because the crash killed Evans and flight attendant Katenina Marquez (Nadine Velazquez), with whom he had had a sexual relationship.
As Whip, Washington will compel you to be on his side and feel sorry for him throughout the movie.
The funny thing is, he says he never had a sip of alcohol during the shooting of Flight, yet he pulls off the act of being a drunk and a druggie so well. He's the man.
Fellow cast members are outstanding too. Don Cheadle plays Whip's lawyer, Hugh Lang, and he's a super legal eagle.
Whip's drug supplier, Harlings May, is in John Goodman's chubby hands and what a display.
As to whether Whip is exonerated in the hearing or not, that, my dear flick lover, you are gonna have to go to the cinema to see for yourself. The turn of events will surprise you.
The script is out of this world and that's why the screenwriter has been nominated for this year's Oscar.
Of course, Washington is up for the Best Actor Award too at the 85th Academy Awards.
He already has two Oscars under his belt - one as Best Supporting Actor in Glory (1989) and Best Actor in Training Day (2001).
Title: Flight
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Screenwriter: John Gatins
Cast: Denzel Washington, Don Cheadle, Kelly Reily, John Goodman, Bruce Greenwood, Melissa Leo, Brian Gehaghty, Tamara Tunie, Nadine Velazquez, James Badge Dale and Gaarcelle Beauvais
Genre: Drama
Age restriction: 16 PG
Running time: 2 hour 15 minutes
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