Flight

Denzel Washington stars and Robert Zemeckis directs this uneven film about an airline pilot with mad flying skills—and a mad problem with alcohol and drugs. Washington is Whip, a man who ties one on the night before a flight that first requires him to pilot through a horrible storm, and then results in a spectacular crash. Whip performs miraculous feats—despite an alcohol level off the charts. Washington is typically great in the role, keeping the movie worth watching even when it gets a bit trite. The first half hour of this movie is a powerhouse. The remaining time is OK, but there’s nothing like the punch of that flight sequence. Nonetheless, this performance is sure to score Washington an Oscar nomination. This marks a decent return to live action for Zemeckis, who had gotten all caught up in those creepy motion-capture animation films like The Polar Express.