Eflizotte
11-13-12, 11:07 AM
I seriously enjoyed this film. Zemeckis is know for some great work and "Flight"is no exception. The storyline was interesting, the character development of Whip (Denzel Washington) felt very accurate and relatable and the cinematography was very well done. There were several shots in this movie that particularly jumped out at me for their composition and, certainly in the plane crash and ensuing wreckage, their sheer intensity. From a creative standpoint, this movie was a winner. The shots of the rolling and landing plane alone are breathtaking. But what sets this film apart from any other technically proficient film was its storyline.
The film follows Whip Whitaker, confident pilot and heavy substance abuser, who, after years of successful flights, meets the greatest fear of every pilot; a rapidly descending, out of control plane. In a desperate move, Whip is able to invert the plane, stabilize the decent, correct the orientation and crash land in a field killing only six people. It is something no other pilot could have done. However, it is later discovered that Whip was under drug and alcohol influence while flying that morning. A series of investigations begin and Whip’s one “under control” life beings to unravel. While he initially tries to remain sober following his accident, the stresses of the investigation return him to his dependency on alcohol. The characters he meets throughout the storyline attempt to help him or direct him towards help but he consistently denies he need for it. Even with close friends and lawyers attempting to clear his name and shift blame to mechanical failure of the plane, Whip’s character is becoming darker and darker. He sinks so far that just prior to the hearing that would determine his future as a pilot or a prisoner, he goes on a wild drinking binge and barely makes it to the hearing. It is during that same hearing that Whip decides to stop running, tell the truth and ultimately end his cycle of decline.
One of the more evident themes in the film is the place and concept of God’s nature and presence in this world. God is depicted in a verity of ways from cruel and heartless as, in reference to the crash, Whip asks, “Whose God would do this?”, to the cancer patient who, in a cynical and yet authentic tone, declares that God is in control of his cancer to redeeming and saving, as displayed in the final scenes with Whip in prison, his Bible and copy of the Serenity Prayer close at hand, explaining fellow prisoners, “I’m sober. I thank God for that. God is also referenced by Whip’s co-pilot and the co-pilots wife as a higher judge and as the one in control of all things. As a Christian, I found this verity to be very interesting. It’s clear that God is related somehow to these events; he is coldly uninvolved, he simply doesn’t care or he is both caring and involved. While the film does not explicitly state it, I believe Whip’s story, like my own, suggests that God is both caring and involved.
Whip’s story is almost an exact personification of the plane crash he endured. Things got out of control, even upside down at certain points, yet his life was spared and ultimately changed. As Zemeckis said, “it’s a story of redemption, it’s a story of hope”. I walked away from Flight experiencing just that; a story of redemption and hope. Anyone have any similar experiences? I know this topic can get touchy on forums but its one of the elements that I thought was a significant part of the film. Thanks! :up:
The film follows Whip Whitaker, confident pilot and heavy substance abuser, who, after years of successful flights, meets the greatest fear of every pilot; a rapidly descending, out of control plane. In a desperate move, Whip is able to invert the plane, stabilize the decent, correct the orientation and crash land in a field killing only six people. It is something no other pilot could have done. However, it is later discovered that Whip was under drug and alcohol influence while flying that morning. A series of investigations begin and Whip’s one “under control” life beings to unravel. While he initially tries to remain sober following his accident, the stresses of the investigation return him to his dependency on alcohol. The characters he meets throughout the storyline attempt to help him or direct him towards help but he consistently denies he need for it. Even with close friends and lawyers attempting to clear his name and shift blame to mechanical failure of the plane, Whip’s character is becoming darker and darker. He sinks so far that just prior to the hearing that would determine his future as a pilot or a prisoner, he goes on a wild drinking binge and barely makes it to the hearing. It is during that same hearing that Whip decides to stop running, tell the truth and ultimately end his cycle of decline.
One of the more evident themes in the film is the place and concept of God’s nature and presence in this world. God is depicted in a verity of ways from cruel and heartless as, in reference to the crash, Whip asks, “Whose God would do this?”, to the cancer patient who, in a cynical and yet authentic tone, declares that God is in control of his cancer to redeeming and saving, as displayed in the final scenes with Whip in prison, his Bible and copy of the Serenity Prayer close at hand, explaining fellow prisoners, “I’m sober. I thank God for that. God is also referenced by Whip’s co-pilot and the co-pilots wife as a higher judge and as the one in control of all things. As a Christian, I found this verity to be very interesting. It’s clear that God is related somehow to these events; he is coldly uninvolved, he simply doesn’t care or he is both caring and involved. While the film does not explicitly state it, I believe Whip’s story, like my own, suggests that God is both caring and involved.
Whip’s story is almost an exact personification of the plane crash he endured. Things got out of control, even upside down at certain points, yet his life was spared and ultimately changed. As Zemeckis said, “it’s a story of redemption, it’s a story of hope”. I walked away from Flight experiencing just that; a story of redemption and hope. Anyone have any similar experiences? I know this topic can get touchy on forums but its one of the elements that I thought was a significant part of the film. Thanks! :up: