Hi, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab...
I’ve heard very little buzz about this one, but longtime contributor Tennyson Steed weighs in today with a positive take on the picture:
Survival stories are powerful because we do not know how to conserve. If you are stranded without food and water, with no civilization within reach, and you don’t know if anyone is looking for you, and you miss even the slightest, tiniest opportunity, your chances of living plummet exponentially. In a situation like that, you have no choice but to capitalize on every resource to it’s utmost. Efficiency and maximum value become your only life lines, and in all probability, they won’t work anyway.
In this particular age, this is an odd movie for Hollywood to be making. Does anyone else think so? I did not expect to write a good review for Flight of the Phoenix. Guys, I’m gonna do it anyway.
Let’s look at the opportunities these filmmakers had at their disposal.
Craft. This film is shot so beautifully, you will want to visit the Gobi desert. Just wait till you see it – it’s spectacular. And the plane – they pass over every inch of that plane with a lens, and you will never get tired of it. The cold aluminum gleam of the aircraft in the soft, golden dunes is the visual hook for the entire movie, and it works, all the way through. Hats off to the DP. Not a wasted scrap of footage – not one bad shot makes it into this movie, and the majority of them are stunningly beautiful. Let’s move on…
Character. The writers behind this movie apply a steady-handed formula to each and every character in the movie. Show you the weakness and the flaws, just long enough that you begin to recoil, and then show you the solidarity, the humor, the bravery, the ability to act under pressure. These are characters we know are flawed. They’re not the sort of people anyone likes to meet in a restaurant or bar. By the end of the movie, though, they have grown, and we feel… exalted, at their victory. Not a moment is wasted in the script and no character was gratuitous. Hats off to the writer, too. Continuing on…
The Crash. Ah, yes. So, the characters are introduced, and we’ve chortled a bit at the wit and the camaraderie, but now it’s time to sell the film. If this doesn’t hook the audience, the next hour and 20 minutes will be very long for anyone. I’m here to tell you, nothing will prepare you. Nothing I can say will detract from the harrowing experience of watching this plane get slapped out of the sky by the hand of god and crash to the earth. See this in a theater with some serious sound. No fooling. Yes, I’m talking about Flight of the Phoenix. Fine, but sneak in for just this part. You’ll hear it walking by the doors – no question about that. Step inside the theater, and you will not leave. You will plant your ass down, drop your tickets to Polar Express, and sit in awe, unable to move. This is the kind of filmmaking that makes you want to scream at the top of your lungs. Nope. No waste here.
The Aftermath. The story begins here, really. The character archetypes are familiar, but new enough to keep you focused. There are no surprises. This is a survival story. Just about everything bad that can happen – happens. The characters survive by never letting up their guard against waste or recklessness. The relationships that develop, everything that happens, is well realized, wonderfully photographed, and while there are no heartstopping performances, everyone gives something special to the film. This is a big role for Dennis Quaid. He’s ready for meatier stuff. The days of Innerspace (an old favorite of mine, mind you) and Dreamscape are finally over. Nothing wasted.
The Payoff. I’m such a sucker. Exaltation! And as soon as you know they’re really safe, it’s a fade to black. I’m not one for dragging out a movie, but they leave you wanting to see them safe at home, with families and big smiles and ice cream. They throw in some still shots with the credits to that effect, but I wanted to hear them laughing, and see them enjoy the life they fought so hard for, just a little. It’s for the best. This is a survival story, after all.
This is not a great movie. It’s formulaic, it’s predictable, obviously derivative, but boy howdy is it well realized on the screen. The filmmakers have got something to be very proud of. In a time when many of the powers that be measure success by how much you can afford to waste, they made it out of the desert alive. Sure, they had more resources then they might have, but you know what? They did it. And it was glorious.
See this film guys. We may not see another one like this for a long long time to come. The Flight of the Phoenix has the money, sure, but every cent was conserved, squeezed for quality, and then recycled. Sometimes, living here, we forget how far that goes.
Yours Truly,
Tennyson E. Stead
Thanks, man.
"Moriarty" out.
