Zemeckis Takes Flight Again

Flight opened Nov. 5th.

For more than two decades, Robert Zemeckis was at the top of Hollywood's list for top directors. In the 80's, Zemeckis churned out two MEGA-hits (Back to the Future and Who Framed Roger Rabbit?), but the 90's featured several different shades of the talented director. In the early 90's Zemeckis directed the conclusion of the Back to the Future series along with the special effects driven Death Becomes Her. In 1994, he directed the unforgettable Forrest Gump, which was a major departure from Zemeckis' heavily special effects films. In this character driven film over four decades, his only special effects were including past US presidents interacting with Tom Hanks. Zemeckis turned his attention to sci-fi poorly received Contact before trying is hand in the haunted film What Lies Beneath, before 2000's Castaway and another Oscar nomination. However, Zemeckis turned away from live action for a while with Polar Express, A Christmas Carol and Beowulf, using the live-action style of animation. After twelve years of absence, he's back with Flight.

Once again, critics are raving about
Denzel Washington's performance.

Flight is about an alcoholic, drug addicted pilot Whip Whitaker (Denzel Washington) that is a family man and takes his usual “pre-flight” prep the night before a flight he would never forget. When a mechanical failure occurs, Whip uses an unconventional method to land it. When he escapes with minimal damage and casualties, he's presented as a hero. Unfortunately, when his drug screen comes back, he is in a lot of hot water and could go to jail for life. With other very talented actors in this well-written character piece like Don Cheadle and John Goodman, Zemeckis was set up nicely considering his last film used just Tom Hanks, Helen Hunt and Chris Noth.

Robert Zemeckis directs Tom Hanks
in 2000's Castaway.

So far, critics have given Flight rave revues and it's likely to find it's way on many “year's best” lists, but the bottom line is that one of Hollywood's top directors are back where he belongs; making top quality live action movies. As the pool of directors become less talented and more about quick camera moves, having Zemeckis back in the fray will only make movie goers pleased and critics delighted.