There's really not much to like about Flight. Sure, the plane crash scene was great, but sadly, Denzel's character survives the crash and we're subjected to the rest of the film.
This film is not similar to the one that was advertised: action-packed, funny, and sharp. What it is is another run-of-the-mill case study of an addict consistently justifying his bad behavior until the consequences are so severe that he has to accept responsibility. He goes through the requisite problems: the alienation of his closest friends and only allies, the continues separation from his wife and son (who both cannot stand him, rightfully so), and furthering of self-destructive behavior patterns. There's nothing new here, except perhaps that Denzel is playing the role--and even that's not so new. He's mastered the art of turning unlikeable characters into heroes, which is why he won the Oscar for Training Day. But this time, even his talent can't help the pathetic screenplay by John Gatins.
It's bad enough to watch a film and be able to call out what the next scene is going to be about before the scene even starts--this happened with us several times throughout--but what's worse is when a story overindulges in its own sap.
When all is said and done, and Denzel's character has accepted responsibility for his actions and actually admitted he was drunk and high when he flew the plane, we see that he is in jail and confessing his sins to the other inmates. Of course, he's very contrite. And then he is told he has a visitor, though we don't know who. A few moments are spent building up what turns in to a "duh" reveal of the visitor being his son, the one who hates him. They sit at a picnic table (I guess they have picnics in prison. I wonder what those are like.) and go through the standard preliminaries, "How are you?" "How's your mom?" blah blah blah.
And then, the son pulls out a notepad.
You see, he's applying to college and has to write an essay (as we all did). His topic is the person he most admires. And, of course, as is Hollywood's natural tendency, the son's hero is his father.
Aw, shucks.
Just pathetic. Why John Gatins was nominated for an Oscar for this screenplay is beyond me.
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