Flight Review - 3½ Stars

“Flight” begins with a heart pounding, grip your airchair outright terrifying special effects recreation of an airplane in trouble. You won’t want to see anything stronger than this.  However, Denzel Washington has the controls and lands the malfunctioning machine so we know we’re gonna be ok.  Except—he has a dark secret — he drinks and abuses drugs and lands the crippled airliner drunk.   Director Robert Zemeckis begins this story with this visual stunner then segues to the real drama.  Will Denzel get off as a hero or come clean and admit his addictions?  “Flight” has a strong cast, including Don Cheadle as the union lawyer assigned to keep Washington out of trouble, John Goodman as his enabler/friend, Bruce Greenwood as the Union representative, and Melissa Leo as the NTSB investigator who conducts a late story public meeting like grand opera.  “Flight” delivers real drama and tension with zest and surprise.  These days when Denzel makes a movie people pay attention and he earns that respect once again.  Does it deliver what it promises?  Gripping drama.  Is it entertaining?  Compelling.  Is it worth the price of admission?  A definite must see.