Flightplan

Starring: Jodie Foster, Sean Bean, Peter Sarsgaard, Erika Christensen
Directed by: Robert Schwentke
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Thriller, Action, Drama
2005

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: On board a flight, a mother (Jodie Foster) wakes up to discover her daughter is missing- and no one on the flight has seen her, or remembers seeing her at all. The mother must discover where her child is, and even if she exists at all, as she struggles with the disbelieving flight crew and her own sanity.

Review:
Tim: This is a thriller that appeared to have everything going right for it- Jodie Foster in a thriller as a mother searching for her lost child, set in a claustrophobic and intense setting like on board an airplane, and even bringing in Sean Bean for a small role. However, there was a cheap feeling associated with the movie. By the film's end, we feel cheated, because although the movie is plenty thrilling, we are left bitterly disappointed.

First off, we're see all of this before. The film picks and chooses from a number of other movies, yet the total doesn't equal the sum of its parts. Secondly, the film has an absolutely ridiculous story, and try as I might, I just could not buy it. I really tried to suspend my disbelief, but I have my limits (physically and ethically), and I just could not accept the absurd plot. I can't fathom how some people would.

To be fair, the movie does keep us in suspense. There are many moments where we have yet to understand the whole story where we're convinced something very cool is happening. Though ultimately disappointed, those moments are still there. Foster gives a very good performance, and it is hard to find fault with her. I liked seeing Sean Bean, but honestly, why was he here? Money?

Flightplan will certainly thrill you, at least until it crashes into disappointment. Foster's performance is strong, and you can certainly do worse, but I just can't get the bad taste out of my mouth- this should have been so much better.



Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend:
The Flight of the Phoenix, The Forgotten, Freedomland, Panic Room