Flightplan (2005)

Original comment - Total utter drivel, that's it, more words needed apparently. The only redeeming part of this film is that the word 'brexit' does not feature in it.My later, more reflective comment - inspirational, they must have known how ridiculous the plot and sets were but thought 'what the heck, let's make this crap'. Brilliant. Far too many mediocre films made, this is in no way mediocre. Better to be at either end of the scale than sit firmly in the middle. You're bothered about this film because it's at an extreme. You'll just have to watch it to find out where you think it sits.

At 1st, I was enjoying it to some point, and then, things started to go downhill, when we reached the part of stereotyping Arabs, I told myself "that's it, I'm bouncing" but since I already paid for this nonsense, I forced myself to finish it, I went to sleep afterwards contemplating about my choices in life, boy was it a fun night...

Jodie Foster and her 6 year old daughter boards a Boeing 747 with a coffin where lays the dead body of Foster's husband who was killed in an unfortunate accident. After a brief nap, she finds her daughter is missing. She searches every aisle, seat, and lavatories of the big jet; and even informs the flight crew just to find that her daughter's name is not in the passenger list. Is her distress on losing her husband creating hallucination that she had boarded the plane with her daughter or is there any kidnapper in the flight deck who has hidden her daughter with the possible attachment of the flight crew.The suspense is fascinating for a while but soon the film drops to a familiar glitz and nothing remains exciting. The thing worth mentioning in the film is the search for the daughter outside the cabin of the aircraft cruising above 30,000 feet. Those fascinated by aviation, like me, will definitely appreciate to the aerodynamics captured in the camera. Jodie Foster, though appears a bit weary, still looks good. The captain of the aircraft also acts well, whereas others appear not more than the routine characters from a B grade thriller. The biggest problem of the film is its story and the regular villain character that don't bind the plot very well, which makes it a passable movie that you won't remember for very long. Perhaps a better plot, well carved characters, and a meatier role for the daughter could have made the film more interesting.Rating: 1 star out of 4

The key to making a really good "mysterious disappearance" film, in my opinion, is how the story pans out after the "reveal". This Jodie Foster-starring feature is absolutely fine for the first two thirds as the mystery attendant on her daughter vanishing from the seat next to her while sleeping on an airbus flight, is carefully built up. I even liked the giveaway's nod to Hitchcock's "The Lady Vanishes" but after that, the film subsides to a ridiculously far-fetched extortion / hijacking plot and a madcap chase through the body of the plane before the predictable happy ending, or should that be landing takes place. I did admire the sense of claustrophobia created in the confines of the aircraft and there's no denying the piece as a whole is a fast-moving mystery-thriller. There's also a welcome caution against xenophobia as Foster initially suspects a pair of Arab passengers but the stereotypical responses of the passengers and crew to the as it turns out innocent men and later to Foster's disruption of their flight is greatly overstated. In fact the singling out of Foster's character by the baddies, which necessitates the pre-flight murder of her husband so that his coffin can be placed on the flight stretches credulity and credibility way beyond breaking point.Foster herself shows herself to be fit and athletic as she searches every nook and cranny of the plane seeking her daughter but otherwise doesn't to have demonstrate many emotions other than anxiety. Sean Bean, as the incredulous pilot trying to calm the situation, is probably the best of the rest.It really is very hard to take seriously a straight-faced thriller set on a plane when we've all seen the corny "Airport" films of the 70's and of course the spoof "Airplane" movies of the 80's. "Flightplan" doesn't manage to reclaim that territory but once you check your disbelief in the overhead locker, you can still sit back and enjoy this particular flight, making sure you stay awake of course.