Flight

Name: Flight
Genre: Drama
Released: November 2, 2012
Duration: 138 min
Rating: 76
Cast: Bruce Greenwood, Denzel Washington, Nadine Velazquez

2012

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 40 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 420 Ratings

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7.3

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7.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 420 Ratings

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Flight

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Movie Details & Credits

Paramount Pictures | Release Date: November 2, 2012 | R

Starring: Bruce Greenwood, Denzel Washington, Nadine Velazquez

Summary: Flight tells the redemption story of Whip, a commercial airline pilot who pulls off a heroic feat of flying in a damaged plane, saving 98 lives on a flight carrying 106 people. While the world begs to embrace him as a true American Hero, the everyman struggles with this label as he is forced to hold up to the scrutiny of an investigationFlight tells the redemption story of Whip, a commercial airline pilot who pulls off a heroic feat of flying in a damaged plane, saving 98 lives on a flight carrying 106 people. While the world begs to embrace him as a true American Hero, the everyman struggles with this label as he is forced to hold up to the scrutiny of an investigation that brings into question his behavior the night before the doomed flight. (Paramount Pictures)… Expand

Director: Robert Zemeckis

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: R

Runtime: 138 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Michael Phillips

Nov 1, 2012

Flight is exciting - terrific, really - because in addition to the sophisticated storytelling techniques by which it keeps us hooked, it doesn't drag audience sympathies around by the nose, telling us what to think or how to judge the reckless, charismatic protagonist played by Denzel Washington. Read full review

Manohla Dargis

Nov 1, 2012

Flight is freakishly real; it's one of those big-screen nightmares that will inspire fear-of-flying moviegoers to run home and Google car rental deals and Greyhound schedules. Read full review

Joe Williams

Nov 1, 2012

We can quibble about the punitive punchline of John Gatins' script, but keeping complexity aloft for so long makes Flight a miraculous feat. Read full review

Wesley Morris

Nov 1, 2012

Flight is a so-so movie with Denzel Washington as a commercial-airline pilot who crash-lands a plane while drunk, high, hung over, and horny. It doesn't do much that you couldn't anticipate just by seeing the trailer - the trailer is more exciting than the movie itself. Read full review

James Berardinelli

Nov 4, 2012

It may not be frivolously engaging but it is compelling. Read full review

Movieline Alison Willmore

Nov 1, 2012

Turns out to be a disappointingly standard addiction story in its second half also serves as a reminder that Hollywood tends to be more invested in these types of self-serious movies than most actual audiences. Read full review

Boxoffice Magazine Vadim Rizov

Oct 16, 2012

Zemeckis intends to give us a slightly more depraved version of Washington's usual charismatic hero, then pull the rug out from him. But Flight's true downward spiral is its own loss of momentum. Read full review

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User Reviews

mwm7430

Nov 2, 2012

As the movie begins you think you know where it is headed, but you (the audience member ) only really have a general sense of direction and you quickly learn that this screen play and director Robert Zemeckis have a much more involved journey planned. This film exfoliates like an onion toAs the movie begins you think you know where it is headed, but you (the audience member ) only really have a general sense of direction and you quickly learn that this screen play and director Robert Zemeckis have a much more involved journey planned. This film exfoliates like an onion to reveal much more of a surprise than you could have anticipated. For once the trailer isn't the best part and it doesn't reveal "all of the good parts." There are a number of great performances by both known veteran actors like Denzel Washington and a bunch of lesser known actors as well. This movie is packed with twist for certain, but they aren't the kind of supernatural twist that are typically overloaded with a generous helping of hyperbole, not this movie is packed with realistic moments that people will be able to identify with. There will most certainly be some Oscar nominations from this film, including perhaps best screen play, best supporting actor and may be best director. Go see this film!… Expand

6 of 12 users found this helpful66

MegWhiteley

Nov 4, 2012

Flight... Ok, the movie is very interesting, have a trama that sounds interesting, the screenplay is really awesome, and the performance of Washington is really amazing. The problem with Flight, is that have some boring moments. But the movie is really fantastic.

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

theoffice

Nov 10, 2012

A high quality drama with a great story that is a good break from the action flicks that dominate the market nowadays. Scenes that will be funny for some may be all too real for others. Denzel Washington does a fantastic job as usual. Definitely recommend.

4 of 6 users found this helpful42

analogkid280

Nov 3, 2012

Not oscar worthy in my opinion but a good movie. Makes you never want to take a drink ever again effectively. They just overdo it way too much. If someone drank that much they would of been dead of blood alcohol poisoning long before the storyline for this movie began.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

theseparator

Dec 16, 2013

In this 2012 film, Director Robert Zemeckis shows-off his filmmaking chops in the film’s first forty-five phenomenal minutes. The plane crash in Flight is spectacular and original. A fresh new take and a welcome addition to the genre, it’s unlike any other plane crash I’ve seen before.In this 2012 film, Director Robert Zemeckis shows-off his filmmaking chops in the film’s first forty-five phenomenal minutes. The plane crash in Flight is spectacular and original. A fresh new take and a welcome addition to the genre, it’s unlike any other plane crash I’ve seen before.

Preparing for its final decent into Atlanta the MD-80 aircraft of Southjet Flight 227 severely malfunctions. The elevator, the hinged wings on the plane’s tail stick downward, sending the plane into a steep dive. A disastrous crash is almost certain, but with ace pilot Captain Whip Whitaker (Denzel Washington) at the controls, he and his crew pull off a remarkable feat and save hundreds of lives.

After the gripping first act, the rest of film the film is propelled forward solely by Washington who is in fine form, yet despite this, the film mostly drags on. Many long, unnecessary, and awkward scenes could have easily have been cut, and the film would have been better for it. Parts of the back-story of Whitaker’s life work great, while others are just too convenient to be believable.

Flight tries to be more than just a plane crash film. The film delves deep into the destruction alcoholism can cause, and also attempts to tackle the question of what it is to be a hero.

While drudging up some very interesting and heavy material, considering the film’s length of 2hr 18min, a much clearer statement of intent would have been nice. Since Captain Whitaker is an alcoholic, there is a ton of backlash against him, but the dialogue on the subject of whether or not a drunk can be a hero, is far from concluded.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

joey-clemenza

Apr 12, 2013

While many have complained about the heavy handedness and self-righteousness of the movies general theme (or great moral lesson) there is no escaping that it is still well acted by it's grade-a class of actors including Denzel Washington, Don Cheadle, Kelly Reilly and the incorrigible JohnWhile many have complained about the heavy handedness and self-righteousness of the movies general theme (or great moral lesson) there is no escaping that it is still well acted by it's grade-a class of actors including Denzel Washington, Don Cheadle, Kelly Reilly and the incorrigible John Goodman who even at a brief 10 minutes of total screen time is by far the most memorable side character of the film. Yes, in parts, the movie plays like a triple A recruiting tool for Alcoholics Anonymous. That isn't to say that the movie is bad. As a viewer, I realized I had been feeling impassioned by characters who spent no more than 10 minutes in front of the camera (one of them making her appearance as a topless flight attendant in a skinny red thong). However trite or mundane these characters are introduced, it only takes a few key scenes to be locked into their own web of misfortune, while feeling the deep seeded morose of Washington's Whip Whitiker. In the end, giving it time and consideration, the movie is far from trite and as moving as Washington's past performances. Not an outstanding movie (and maybe even one that could very well crawl under your skin sometimes), it's not all bad. Given a chance, there'll be moments when it surprises you. **3 out of 5 stars**… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

CasandraComplex

Jun 7, 2022

The Hollywood version of reality is getting so far out to sea that you can't even make anything out .. same goes for this waste of talent and craft to make a movie which has taken the "cause du jour" (cause of the day) and mascarade it an actual story.. but there isn't any real story hereThe Hollywood version of reality is getting so far out to sea that you can't even make anything out .. same goes for this waste of talent and craft to make a movie which has taken the "cause du jour" (cause of the day) and mascarade it an actual story.. but there isn't any real story here that we have not heard a MILLION times over and over preached to you by the very scumbags that actually live in that lifestyle. Hollywood! Get a clue! Real people get steamrolled by aviation producers because of profit margins! That is the real story not some poor alcoholic who pulls off a miracle and actually lands your piss poorly maintained aircraft that was designed in the 1960's.. so spare me your pro-corporate blame the pilot WHO HAPPENED TO LAND YOUR PIECE OF CRAP PLANE storyline bull caa caa.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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68	#68 Best Movie of 2012
36	#36 Most Discussed Movie of 2012
52	#52 Most Shared Movie of 2012