Universal Film Magazine - Issue 8 - www.ufmag.biz

Universal FilmDerek Winner’s review of “Flight”CheerfulWeather ForThe WeddingReview by Derek WinnerIssue 8 - 2013Denzel Washington’s a brilliant pilot,but a drug and booze-obsessed messupas a human being. Hung over andsleep-deprived, he arrives in a terriblestate for a passenger flight, chucksthree vodka miniatures in his OJ, andjoins his shocked co-pilot and smallcrew of stewardesses in the captain’sseat and takes off. Soon the flight’s indire danger, but Denzel turns the aircraftupside down and lands it in a field,saving almost all lives as only he could.But then the investigation into theplane’s malfunction starts to find himout and uncover the truth. Still, his oldairline pal Bruce Greenwood and a slicklawyer (Don Cheadle) might be able tokeep him out of jail...The first 45 minutes of this movie’s abit of a blast, with the crash brilliantlystaged, with a horrific realism that onlya Hollywood big budget can achieve.But then things get bogged down inendless, samey conversations and themovie only finally picks up again as thelegal inquiry starts at the climax. Thissimple, straightforward story is told atfar, far too long-winded a rate. Wholescenes and characters could be profitablycut out and a 138-minute runningtime easily cut to an effective 100 mins.Keeping the movie in the air, Denzelis generally very good, and especiallyexcellent at the sweaty hand-wringing,but he’s not at all convincing as adrunk or a drug-taker. It’s always hardto accept this actor as a bad, or desperatelyflawed guy, maybe just becausehe’s played so many heroes, but alsobecause he isn’t that good at it. JohnGoodman jollies the movie up enormouslyas Denzel’s drug provider, gettinga lot of laughs, while Greenwoodand Cheadle’s earnest, concerned turnshelp him out nicely too, but Nadine Velasquezis stuck in a thankless role asDenzel’s love interest, a fellow druggiewhom he befriends, a role that simplystops suddenly and seems pointlesslytacked on.This is an honourable, interesting, intelligentfilm, but Robert Zemeckis makesa real dull job of the direction and, as afrequent flier, I felt I’d prefer not to seethe highlight plane crash at all, thankyou very much. A case of too much realismbut despite all its words not enoughto say, the movie never soars or blowsyou away as it’s clearly supposed to. DWIt’s England one winter day betweenthe wars and a lovely, poshyoung woman is about to be married-- but something or rathersomebody from her past is goingto get in the way in this Downtonstyleromantic comedy drama. FelicityJones plays Dolly Thatcham,who’s sitting upstairs in a right oldstate at her comfortably-off family’scountry house. Downstairs with therest of the amusingly oddball family,her rich, handsome but boringfiancé Owen (James Norton) andher ex-lover Joseph (Luke Treadaway)are getting more and moresteamed up, while her constantlypained-looking mother Mrs Thatcham(Elizabeth McGovern) finallylooks ready to burst a boiler as itturns out Joseph’s old flame is stillburning bright for Dolly. This is fine,cosy old-style entertainment, warm,humorous and gentle but with justthe smallest touch of edge.With a very nice little script towork on, the actors are more orless perfect. Wholly credible asex-lovers and inhabitants of along-lost world, Jones and Treadawayreally capture the old style ofspeaking and feeling, McGovernis deliciously overwrought and EllieKendrick is strong in support asDolly’s younger sister Kitty. FenellaWoolgar and Mackenzie Crook raisesolid laughs as a bickering marriedcouple whose young son is lettingoff stink bombs, Barbara Flynn’s abit of a hoot as a silly but sexy oldauntie and Joanna Hole is funny asan old maid.This is a minor, low-budget Brit effortdirected and co-written byDonald Rice (son of Tim), but, withthe settings, costumes, score andphotography so lovingly achieved,it’s surprisingly classy and evenmemorable. Fans of wedding filmsand stories of English eccentricswon’t feel short changed. There’seven a little hint of Brief Encounterabout it as Treadaway manages hisfinal speech beautifully.www.ufmag.org40