This film is my favorite of all time as it has impacted me and touched me so deeply ever since my first time watching it in high school. I have always been intrigued by the subject of addiction and this movie paints a sobering picture of how addiction can affect both the person and the ones around them. Denzel Washington gives an Oscar worthy performance as this pilot who struggles with drug and alcohol addiction when he is under trial after a plane crash and navigates the stage of denial with such potent emotion and beautiful subtlety. This movie is a healing and meaningful journey, and I highly recommend it. It’s slower paced but it completely works for me.

Tom Kenny didn't get a credit for the Spongebob cameo, and that's a shame. Let's start with the negative: the god angle was a bit cliche and the writing has its downs including making a seasoned alcoholic's favorite drink a screwdriver. They should've focused on recovery and not had his favorite drink be that of a 13 yr old. The rest: Potentially some of Denzel's best work and definitely one of my favorite John Goodman performances. Flight is devastating, hard to watch, but fulfilling in the end. Whip's arc is a journey of lies an addict tells themselves and everyone else to manipulate and self preserve. It's such a great story where you nearly root for him to be freed, but it's not the freedom you're expecting. Recovery is a beautiful thing and has been so for so many that I love and this hits hard and gets me crying every time. The titular flight is a great scene of tension and anxiety but pales in comparison to the rest of the story. There are a ton of great details throughout but it really delivers on the feeling of watching someone continue to let their addiction rule them. The soundtrack and the timing of the music couldn't be more perfect, from Under the Bridge for Reilly's character's heroin scene to the elevator softly playing "With a Little Help Ftom My Friends" after the hotel aftermath scene. As hard as it is to watch at times, I really love this movie, not only for Denzel's performance, but as a reminder of how important recovery is. 46th Denzel of 2024 491/500 movies & tv for 2024