Denzel at His Finest
After watching Unstoppable a couple years ago, I though Flight would just be another movie where Denzel Washington was tasked with saving the lives of over a hundred people on an out-of-control plane. In a sense, that's pretty much what the movie was all about, except, add drug/alcohol abuse and family issues.
Many people, some of my friends included, all have their own Denzel impersonations (the vindicated smile, raspy laugh, and calm observational humor), but I feel like Washington really breaks away from that standard role in this movie. He compellingly plays the part of a man brought to the brink of self-destruction thanks largely in part to alcohol. Providing a strong counter-balance to this characteristic is John Goodman, who plays the role of drug "coach," one could say.
The only part of the movie that sort of evaded me was the interplay between Washington and Kelly Reilly (who plays a woman suffering from similar difficulties with drugs and alcohol). I mean, I understand why she needs to be in this movie, and the movie certainly would not be as good as it was without it, I just can't decide whether the role could have been casted better or written more effectively.
Did Washington have a chance of winning Best Actor? No, but he deserves thorough recognition for this part. He played it brilliantly. Definitely worth the Best Picture nomination, but again, did not stand a chance against the likes of Argo. Definitely worth the pay-per-view, rental, BluRay purchase, what have you.
Written April 22, 2013
Many people, some of my friends included, all have their own Denzel impersonations (the vindicated smile, raspy laugh, and calm observational humor), but I feel like Washington really breaks away from that standard role in this movie. He compellingly plays the part of a man brought to the brink of self-destruction thanks largely in part to alcohol. Providing a strong counter-balance to this characteristic is John Goodman, who plays the role of drug "coach," one could say.
The only part of the movie that sort of evaded me was the interplay between Washington and Kelly Reilly (who plays a woman suffering from similar difficulties with drugs and alcohol). I mean, I understand why she needs to be in this movie, and the movie certainly would not be as good as it was without it, I just can't decide whether the role could have been casted better or written more effectively.
Did Washington have a chance of winning Best Actor? No, but he deserves thorough recognition for this part. He played it brilliantly. Definitely worth the Best Picture nomination, but again, did not stand a chance against the likes of Argo. Definitely worth the pay-per-view, rental, BluRay purchase, what have you.
Written April 22, 2013