BEWARE, SPOILERS ARE BELOW
There's a point in Flight where through a complete and total series of unfortunate events Denzel Washington's character is completely drunk, right before his big hearing before the FAA. It looks like all hope is lost, that he will not be able to clear his name because he is far too wasted. However, he gets Don Cheadle and Bruce Greenwood to call his buddy John Goodman to bring the miracle drugs that will help level him out. My first reaction was "Oh shit, they're going to pull this off." My second was "Damn, this is kind of a crazy scene." Finally, it became "Wait a sec, should I really be rooting for this guy to succeed?"
If you told me six months ago that this would be the result of a movie starring Denzel Washington and directed by Robert Zemeckis, I would have been skeptical. After all, hadn't Zemeckis moved on to directing films placed firmly in Uncanny Valley? I'm guessing more than a few patrons of the film were expecting something more akin to Remember the Titans or Unstoppable with a plane. Instead they got a sometimes grim portrayal of an alcoholic about to hit bottom as he was being hailed as a (mostly justified) hero for saving most of his passengers with a crash landing.
Sure, most of the points are the ones usually hit in stories about addicts. The occasional efforts towards sobriety, followed by the inevitable relapse. The awful and awkward encounter with the ex-wife and son full of contempt. The requisite scenes of waking up surrounded by beer cans and liquor bottles. As cliche as those scenes may be, it doesn't really matter because of Washington's performance. It's painful to watch, and that is kind of the point.
In the end, he has to make the choice to admit his addiction and face the consequences (jail for being drunk and negligent on the job) or save his butt (but not his soul) by pinning it on his girlfriend, a flight attendant killed in the crash. I found this part to be pretty tense, as his drug fueled rejuvenation put it into doubt if he would make the right choice. When he finally fesses up, the scene could have ended up pretty damn terrible, with all of the shocked reactions from the crowd. However, it works because the FAA inspector is the wonderful Melissa Leo, who takes no joy in his public shaming from his admission.
This is my favorite Zemeckis movie since Back to the Future. If it is still playing in a theater near you, I suggest you check it out. That is, assuming you aren't stuck somewhere in Middle Earth.
Coming next: Skyfall, Lincoln, and yes, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
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