Ground Control

i was bought this film as a gift and was not expecting much from it. After 10 minutes of the film i was hooked. The story line is a little predictable however, its done very well. Keifer Sutherland is at his best and delivers a great performance. It just goes to show that just because a film is not packed with special FX and CGI doesn't mean its not a top notch film.

Jack Harris (Kiefer Sutherland) is an air traffic controller in Chicago, one of the best of the crew. His boss (Bruce McGill) values him highly. But, one tragic day, a plane goes down shortly after takeoff, killing over 150 passengers. Although it was NOT his fault, Jack goes off the deep end. In time, we learn he started drinking, went to re-hab and currently holds a job as a programmer for traffic control software. Flash forwarding a few years, the Chicago crew has a new boss, Susan (Kelly McGillis) who is out to prove something, even when it puts her underlings at risk. The operations manager (Henry Winkler) tries to tell her she is cutting corners with equipment while the comptroller (Michael Gross) is constantly annoying everyone. New AT controller Julie (Kristy Swanson) appears to be more timid than she should be. Things again comes to a crisis at the center, as Susan accepts more planes from a shut-down airport and some staff is off for the holidays. In desperation, the manager reaches out to Jack to "come back" to the station and help out NOW. Once there, will Mr. Harris have the skills and serenity to avoid another catastrophe? Will he be a hero or another victim? This by- the-book thriller has its good points, surely. The cast is the greatest asset, as the flat script is improved with their readings. Gross is a snarly hoot, as far from his understanding father in Families Ties as one can get. There is not much in the way of sets or costumes, as most action takes place inside the air traffic hub. Perhaps the direction deserves more than faint praise, for even with its formulaic premise, the movie does hold a viewer's interest. Therefore, if you like the cast members or disaster-themed films, this one will do for you.

As an aviation buff I was really excited to see this movie. Although there were a few inaccuracies (such as planes changing models and such), it really wasnt a bad film. I could really identify with the characters and you could really care or hate them. Overall I'd give this movie an 8/10.

PS: To all the people who posted about the "real" crash footage....it was from Delta Flight 191 and it was an L1011 that crashed at Dallas in 85. United 232 was a DC-10 and it crashed in Sioux City Iowa in 1989.

Five years after he was kicked off the job after being on shift during a plane crash, Jack Harris is called back into the job to cover a busy Christmas period (if only to run the printer tags). However, Jack takes over from a rookie and gets back into it despite flashbacks. However his skills are pushed to breaking point when the traffic control system suffers several major failures and power cuts.

Like the vast majority of viewers, I came to this film on the back of Sutherland's recent return to the spotlight in 24. In the advertisement this film appeared to be a tense film about the tight world of air traffic control, however in reality this film fails to ever really get going or have anything which grips or engages. The plot is pretty full of holes and episodic, it relies on the characters speaking jargon really quickly more than making the danger and urgency of any of the situations seem real. Some have said that this film is not realistic - I don't know, but I suspect they are right. Certainly it fails to make any valid points about a system that (in the UK) many acknowledge is starting to show cracks at best.

The film's episodic nature suggests it lacks any sense of focus other than the general situation that made up the film's pitch. This sucks any momentum out of it and leaves it stuttering a lot. The cast look like they will prevent this - at least on paper they do, in reality they are bogged down by a film that must have looked like it had potential to be as taut as an elastic band. Sutherland does OK but can't find the tension any better than I could. Comparisons with 24 are null and void, even if his character here is called Jack. Leonard is pretty good in support but not even a cast that includes faces like McGill, McGillis, Swanson and Winkler can raise this above average.

While it is not awful, it is just really unmemorable to say the least. The plot isn't sure where it is going and goes nowhere as a result. With this the tension falls away to zero and the well-known cast only serves to remind that potential is being lost in all areas with this film.

Having just become a fan of "24" I bought this as a cheap DVD because of Kiefer Sutherland. Although the movie isn't an all time great it is certainly worth a watch. It won't tax you mentally but it isn't bad for a quiet night in with a beer and a pizza. Rating 7/10.