Struggling, out of control, in denial, desperate.
I have always been a huge fan of Denzel Washington's work yet for some reason most of this has come from watching him on DVD.
But he's an actor you have to see in the cinema.
He's often in movies with gun fights and car chases, but he doesn't need them.
Actors, forget drama school. Forget reading books. Watch this man instead.
As his plane dives towards the ground, a shaky close-up sits on Denzel Washington's calm and collected face, and he's mesmerising.
The action happens in the first quarter of the movie. By that I mean, the stuff with the plane falling towards the ground. Don't worry, I'm not spoiling it, you've seen the name of the film and you watched the trailer.
Yet for once, the trailer for 'Flight' gives nothing away. The crash incident is just the tip of the iceberg.
This is a film about a very personal battle that is crippling the life of Whip Whitaker (Denzel's character) and the friends, family and colleagues around him.
And only Denzel could do this role, in this way. He's truly a master of acting. Loved by most, yet often criticised for doing similar roles. This one is, without doubt, a lot different. Gone are the guns, the power, the wisdom.
Instead we have a broken man, struggling for survival. Struggling to get through the day.
This is a film about a broken man who had a heroic moment that he can't live up to.
This is the type of performance that makes me LOVE the cinema. Sure, we want a good story. More than that, we want a human being we can relate to, and root for. Someone who reminds of the struggle of being alive, of getting through the day.
There is no-one better qualified to take you on that journey.
Denzel Washington, thank you.
Last Summer you asked "Is Denzel Washington's best yet to come?".
ReplyDeleteLooks like the answer was yes.
I haven't seen this yet, but it's out on DVD/Blu-ray here this week and it's on my list. Denzel Washington is good in every role, but he's excellent in these kinds of emotional dramas. His part in John Q, as the desperate father of a dying boy, is one of my favorite performances from any actor.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Kid! Haven't seen Flight yet, but I think this quote:
ReplyDelete"This is the type of performance that makes me LOVE the cinema. Sure, we want a good story. More than that, we want a human being we can relate to, and root for. Someone who reminds of the struggle of being alive, of getting through the day."
applies for Jessica Chastain and "Maya" in Zero Dark Thirty. Loved that character and her performance.
"This is the type of performance that makes me LOVE the cinema. Sure, we want a good story. More than that, we want a human being we can relate to, and root for. Someone who reminds of the struggle of being alive, of getting through the day"
ReplyDeleteHaven't seen Flight yet but I feel this could apply to Jessica Chastain and her "Maya" in Zero Dark Thirty.
Great post!