Ameaça no Ar

Wow. This might be the worst movie I have seen at the cinema for a long long time. I really can't understand how it got passed as a theatrical release. Straight to TV at best, if it should've been made at all!

I won't give the plot away in case anyone reading this is into wasting 90 minutes of their lives but suffice it to say even Mark Wahlberg can't save this one. And on that note...I can't even see the point in Wahlberg's character. The witness/prisoner was worthy of a smack in the mouth most the way through the film, absolutely not funny and irritating as hell until the final scenes when his predicament actually makes him a semi-likeable character.

This film is full of a lot of "whys" for me. "Why didn't you just shoot him?" "Why is the pilot on the airwaves immediately on the pull?" "Why is Mark Wahlberg sporting a rascal fake bald head??" "Why is the aircraft still flying after plummeting through thick mountain top snow?" "Why did Mel Gibson bother??" I could go on...

I'm not sure if this actually a joke? Didn't Michelle Dockery or Mark Walhberg question the stuff they were saying? Didn't Mel Gibson question the editing? Is this some sort of tax right off for all those involved? If Mel Gibson has only directed 5 films, why on earth would he want this to be one of them? I'm just so surprised. The plot has so many holes you could strain spaghetti with it. The acting is awful, even by good actors. There are so many cliches it's unreal. Actually, come to think of it, I'm wondering if this is the first movie ever made that was written by ChatGpT? Maybe edited by it too?

Flight Risk is Mel Gibson's latest film (a thriller/action piece) and stars Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Dockery, and Topher Grace. It made my list of most anticipated for the year, and much like my experience with Wolf Man, I enjoyed this film for what it was. Simple plot, decent acting and action, and not anything that wears out its welcome. While there are some nitpicks I had about various moments that didn't feel quite so solid, the film as a whole was enjoyable enough that I wasn't pissed or disappointed. As I've mentioned before, I consider that a win these days. Video review is on my YouTube channel.

An enticing, crisp set-up sees corrupt accountant Topher Grace arrested while holed up in Alaska. Willing to testify for the prosecution in order to reduce his sentence, he is being flown to Anchorage in a small airplane with the U. S. Marshal who apprehended him (Michelle Dockery) and their talkative, eccentric pilot (Mark Wahlberg). Flight Risk is without question director Mel Gibson's most straightforward genre fare - a thriller that willingly sacrifices logic and the laws of physics in order to drive its breakneck plot forward and keep the adrenaline level high. Still, it's hard to fault the effectiveness of its tricks: The film offers tight suspense and mostly good fun for an hour and a half. And although its forays into comedy may not always hit home, the performances by Dockery and Grace somewhat surprisingly have both heart and depth. In reality, this is their show, not Wahlberg's.

It's not a high concept movie by any stretch. But, it is an entertaining flick. And, it's the first time Wahlberg has played an actual bad guy since 1996's Fear. And not to give anything away, but damn, his character gets taken to task to say the least.

Topher Grace is...Topher Grace in this movie. His character really could've been played by any number of actors. The same could be said for the actress who played the FBI agent. But in reality, none of the characters actually required in depth character study or to be standout. It was just a matter of getting actors to sign onto the film who could competently pull off the scenes.

So again, it's a decent film overall. I don't think anyone will walk out feeling disappointed or angry about spending their time or money watching it. And as run of the mill as it is, it's still better than what's being nominated for an Academy award this year.