Flight

Flight isn't the type of film I generally like.  Basically, it's a lifetime channel movie with a bigger budget.  The trouble was though is that it was a very well written film with some great acting, so it drug me in kicking and screaming. 

If you saw the trailer it's basically all there.  It's not a spoiler to say that what would generally be the climax of the film happens at the very beginning.  Denzel Washington is the pilot that makes the miracle save as his plane crashes down.  At one point in a bit of inspired, insane genius he winds up flying a jet upside down.  The real trouble for him occurs after the crash.  See, he has a bit of a drinking problem, no I lie he has absolutely no problem drinking.  He's an Olympic athlete of drinking.  So when at the hospital they find his blood alcohol level to be .26 eyebrows are raised and even though he saved everyone there is definite talk of jail.

First off let's just say this, the "message" of this film could be read from moon.  A man who saves a plane from crashing can't (or won't) save his life from crashing.  It's one of those things that would come to a writer right off the bat and then that writer would say, "Nah, too obvious."  The thing that makes it work here though is it so unabashedly in your face that it works by the sheer ernestness of it all.  It helps that Washington's character is very unwilling to change.  Honestly, he's not a nice man, nor good company.  There's a small host of people playing angel to his diving devil to save him.  Some are doing it for their own purposes as he becomes a hero and for many reasons folks in power don't want the media or the law to see his feet of clay and liquer bottles. 

Definitely worth a watch if you don't mind a film that is somewhat of a downer.  Oh and a special shout out to John Goodman as the overly friendly drug dealer.  See you on the dark side of the moon!