Reviewed by Jacob Powell

WE'RE IN Germany, it’s dark, snowing and the stink of death is in the air. Kyle (Jodie Foster) is a mother on edge with grief, trying to hold it together for her daughter’s sake. As grieved mother and daughter board the monolithic, winged beast that is to be their transport home you begin to wonder what might, no, what will go wrong. As time (and clouds) fly by, you discover that it is, unfortunately, the film.


Brought to the big screen by a relatively untried writer/director team (written by Peter A. Dowling & Billy Ray; directed by Robert Schwentke), Flightplan is a 'claustrophobic psychological thriller' starring Jodie Foster, a la Panic Room. If you’re wondering why the female protagonist is named ‘Kyle’, apparently the part was initially written with Sean Penn in mind. Apparently he was unavailable but they decided it didn’t need to be changed when Jodie Foster accepted the role.

Flightplan takes off into a scenario which you need to cut some slack to make feel believable. But hey, you paid $15 to be here so you’re more than willing. The director, with much help from Foster, manages to build a reasonable level of tension which should keep many potential audience members keyed in. Before long the plot, and not the plane, suddenly spirals downward, out of control.

It’s sad because the storyline is not too bad until the big ‘plot twist’ occurs. I have to admit, I didn’t see it coming. Apparently neither did the script writers. About two thirds into it you suddenly feel like you’re watching a different movie – only with the same cast and in the same location. The final third ends up feeling like a parody of the film you’ve been watching. I would not have been surprised if at some point Steven Segal had popped out of one of the luggage compartments to sort shit out. In fact, I think subconsciously I was somewhat disappointed that he didn’t. It would have made the whole experience seem somehow more acceptable.

My wife, who is easily freaked out by good, twisted psychological thrillers, couldn’t manage much more than annoyance at the confused storyline and tennis match of overreactions supplied in the screenplay. Perhaps the director was inspired to throw in some cries of “More in-tensity!” to keep team spirit up?!?

Jodie Foster does pull out a creditable performance – but what’s the use of throwing yourself into such a piece? Oh yeah, the pay cheque. I’m sure her eyes were firmly focussed. Sean Bean did little to impress me in his role as the plane’s captain. At least his character was somewhat more believable than the neurotic lawman poor Peter Saarsgard (Kinsey/Garden State) had to contend with. I found it difficult to develop a sense of connection or empathy with any of the main characters who all seemed a tad unreasonable, extreme circumstances withstanding.

There is definite merit in the abundance of twists and tension offered and Flightplan maintains enough pace to keep your eyes pointed toward the screen. Schwentke makes reasonably good use of the limited setting. This is the largest plane you’re ever likely to come across and you do get to know it fairly intimately by the end of the 90 or so minutes.

Ultimately this film is bound to get a mixed reception. Some will most definitely feel like they’re getting their money’s worth. If you like Jodie Foster, have nothing to do one evening, and can head into the theatre keeping your expectations firmly reined in, then you might come away feeling happy about the state of the world. Unfortunately I’m not that guy.