Flight (2012)

This movie was a HUGE relief. Around this time of year I start high-volume movie watching at the cinema, trying to anticipate possible Oscar nominees.  The more possibles I see now, the easier my December / January is. Because I try to see all the movies before the awards (for all the major categories), I see a fair amount of crap.  Last year I was particularly annoyed by Albert Nobbs and My Week with Marilyn.  Neither of those, however, was as torturous as Revolutionary Road or Atonement, or the biggie - Avatar. 

Flight is a likely nominee - at a minimum for Best Actor.  I think it has a decent chance for a Best Picture / Best Director nod as well.  This is a big picture with a lot of story lines, but Robert Zemeckis does a great job keeping them corralled. It doesn't wander too much down the extraneous story lines, and as a result those side trips add to the character development of Whip Whitaker. 

Whip is a pilot - a great pilot - with incredible instincts. We see this early (the plane crash is in the trailers, so this isn't a spoiler), but we also see an overriding character trait from the get-go.  Whip is a raging alcoholic.  After the crash he is no longer able to hide his drinking, though he tries.  The movie is about watching Whip hit his bottom, and it's well done. 

Denzel is amazing here. I have felt for a long time that Denzel was generally going for the easy payday, though I enjoyed Safe House and American Gangster. Well, this is different, and what a joy it is to watch this guy!! As Whip he is bold and cocky, falling down drunk, incoherent, nervous, sly and sneaky, sheepish, aggressive and manipulative. I would watch this guy forever.

Robert Zemeckis is an old favorite - he did the Back to the Future series, Forrest Gump, Castaway. He has been spending time with digital and new movie-making techniques for a while, but I"m betting the Academy members will be so happy to have him back working with actors that he'll get some nominations.  At least I hope so.