Flightplan --- almost a plane wreck waiting to happen

©Touchstone

Title:
Flightplan (B)
PH Release Date:
November 9, 2005
Actors:
Jodie Foster, Sean Bean, Peter Sarsgaard, Kate Beahan, Michael Irby, Erika Christensen
Director:
Robert Schwentke
Screenplay:
Peter A Dowling & Billy Ray
Editor / Music:
Thom Noble / James Horner
Design / Photography:
Alec Hammond / Florian Ballhaus
Producer:
Brian Grazer
Studio:
Touchstone Pictures


©Touchstone
“If Someone Took Everything You Live For... How Far Would You Go To Get It Back?”


Finally, after weeks of waiting, I finally got to see this movie. As a humungous fan of Ms. Foster, I reserve all the right to make a review of it and nobody is gonna stop me! Not even my virus-filled computer!!!

Mized reviews besiege this thriller, which forced me not to expect too much from this movie, withdrawing my previous assumptions that it’s gonna be great--- cuz Jodie’s in it. But after seeing it, I can say that it’s really GREAT---- cuz Jodie’s in it.


©Touchstone

Kyle (Jodie Foster), a recent widower is on board with her daughter on a flight from Berlin to New York when all of a sudden, Julia, her 6 year-old daughter, mysteriously disappeared, leaving no traces behind as if she never existed. Convincing herself and others that she’s not crazy and that her daughter is in fact really missing; Kyle went as far as blaming an Arab man as Julia’s abductor and messing with the plane system. With everyone thinking that she’s out of her mind, will Kyle be able to hold her belief that Julia existed for the plane crew, staff and passengers to find out that it’s anything but a severe case of delusion?

The script for this movie is good, far from airtight, but tolerable. A lot of pivotal changes could have been made that will make this movie the great thriller that it should be. For starters, they could have made Fiona’s (Erika Christensen) role more crucial, made her a link as to how Kyle will find out the truth. As far as I am concerned, despite the enormous size of that plane, it is quite impossible to miss somebody knowing how close the seats are. Someone will always notice someone, maybe not approach or talk to them, but surely someone will spot them. And if that’s not enough to convince you, someone will surely see anyone who reaches for the luggage cabinets (if that’s what they call it). Fiona could have been that one.


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The direction is better than I expected. It was clean and smoothly done. It captured every inch of the acting prowess Jodie showed in this film. He knew where the strength of this movie lay, and he grabbed every opportunity to use it. The pacing for the first hour of the movie was nicely done, it sorta appeared rushed after that but I believe it’s really more of the script’s problem. It just turned too predictable and ordinary, that no good direction can save it.

The editing of the movie is another good thing in this movie. The production design is good as well. A fabulous plane if I may add. Never been on a plane so I don’t think that such things, like a fab bar and the like actually really exists, but I would definitely not turn down a chance to experience riding in it. The music is average, it could have been much, much better. The cinematography is good enough, although sometimes it looks as if they’re not inside a plane cuz it just seemed to big, but how would I know, I’ve never been in one.


©Touchstone

Jodie Foster shines, sizzles, kicks-ass in this movie! She never lost her thriller-charm! Nobody does it better! Although I find it extremely difficult to believe that the role she played was originally written for Sean Penn, I am delighted that it didn’t end up in his hands, not that he’ll ruin it, but I wouldn’t wanna miss the chance to see her in any new movie this year. She rarely makes movies these days, which is really a shame cuz she’s one of the finest, if not the best.

Sean Bean makes a convincing captain who seemed to be having more problems dealing with his constipation rather than his flight scare, but I was really persuaded that he was worried, may it be his bowels or the plane. Peter Sarsgaard is like a split-image of Paul Rudd, with the latter being more good-looking and talented. He is one of the weakest aspects in this movie. I found him infuriating, not his character, but him. He looked and acted like a drunken-bastard suffering from a jetlag. Couldn’t they find anybody else? Erika Christensen was rightfully cast, but unfortunately the role wasn’t developed well enough. Hopefully we’ll get to see more of her doing more challenging roles next time. The rest of the extras who I heard stayed for the gig for more than 5-months did well, lucky them, all they did was sit, chat and stare at real actors and get paid for it for more than 100 days. I guess they didn’t mind being on that much-delayed flight.


©Touchstone

With a handful of Asian thrillers coming out with almost exactly the same themes and ending, it’s nice to see a movie that attempts to bring back the times of Hitchcock, even if they fail. I cannot compare this movie with Red Eye cuz I haven’t seen it, but in comparison with Panic Room, you can say that it was close to being its identical twin. It’s impossible not to sense a feeling of déjà vu after seeing Jodie Foster lock herself in one of the rooms.

For Jodie’s performance alone, it’s worth the watch. This gem of an actress will be sure worth your precious buck. What do you know, after watching it, you may even ask for a return flight.

Grading Sheet:
Story – 15%
Screenplay – 15%
Direction / Execution – 15%
Acting – 18%
Technical Aspect – 17%
Total: 80% = B