“Flight Risk” is a new thriller directed by Mel Gibson, starring Mark Wahlberg Michelle Dockery and Topher Grace that sees an unusual journey for characters in the Alaskan wilderness. The movie was released in theaters and explores the dangers of a trip gone very wrong.
The Setup of “Flight Risk”
Michelle Dockery plays a U.S. Marshal named Madelyn, tasked with transporting a criminal witness to Anchorage Alaska (Topher Grace as Winston) a journey that turns dangerous quickly as it all occurs in a small plane with pilot Daryl played by Mark Walhberg who is revealed to be a hit man.
The Confined Setting
The confined setting onboard a small plane serves as a high intensity stage for events where trust and loyalty become very important components for the overall storyline. Also it gives an element of unknown as things unfold for all members onboard.
Characters of the Movie
The characters create many unusual moments and are different in nature. Each actor takes on a persona which enhances the delivery of the different personalities in play.
Mark Wahlberg as Daryl the Pilot
Wahlberg is set to play the character Daryl, who presents an unpredictable nature and turns out to be a brutal hitman posing as a pilot with intentions unknown to his fellow members. The role is unlike previous positions he has taken with the inclusion of portraying the villain this time. He spent his on camera times picking and prodding his fellow cast members while in the back of the airplane. His performance uses both humor along with menacing nature.
Michelle Dockery's Deputy Marshal Madelyn
Dockery plays the role of a U.S. Marshal as she tries to gain control of a dangerous environment where her and the witness on board seem to become his target. This role will showcase strength, courage and knowledge in a high stress situation.
Topher Grace's Portrayal of Winston
Topher Grace delivers an unexpected take of Winston who provides sarcastic comedy while the other two lead figures navigate violence and treachery throughout the intense event which was not always well recieved during production.
Themes and Tones of the Film
The film is trying to balance intensity with its tone of humor to bring the message across but it falls short. Elements of suspense action and bits of dark comedy often clash. It takes familiar tropes of thrillers and then elevates to new circumstances, but often not in a way that's beneficial.
The Blend of Humor and Danger
The script attempted to show tension by putting in dark humor and the movie becomes a jumble. Some of the dialog attempts to bring a unique style but fall flat leaving audiences and viewers not fully drawn in by each new element used. There is a mixture of everything being attempted from gun battles to crude humor which didn't always land in the manner that was desired.
The Directors Approach
Mel Gibson takes on the role of the director. He gives his all to capturing the confined environment within the plane and juxtaposes it with views from outside such as snowy landscapes and an endless sky. Despite this direction and his prior well known work he falls short by bringing too many issues to one screen making his directing capabilities questionable by the viewer.
Camera Work and the Environment
Gibson’s use of camera is praised as a visual director in taking from the claustrophobic feel inside the plan with open scenery of Alaska. These perspectives were both jarring yet showed off a quality within some shots during the process and give contrast to highlight each moment differently. However that is not what could salvage a poorly planned story line and cast choices.
Critic Reviews and Public Perception
The film has received poor reviews overall. It also shows an absence of consistent tone and often seems chaotic. Though some have mentioned it is thrilling for moments with a wild and unusual view, others are seeing that there is little that works well throughout the film and creates disappointment in an attempt to use both genres together as a whole.
A Mismatch of Elements
Many note that characters such as Mark Wahlberg do not show enough depth and come off as chaotic. There was an odd choice to put in elements such as Mark using slang that is never really explained. In addition, all characters seem to have different style choices that did not gel well together in a single film.
Initial Box Office Response
The opening gross did not perform as the studio had anticipated it. The movie did have a higher percentage for those over 25 but did not help boost profits and was a low performing release when considering all factors that went into its development.
Key Takeaways
- Flight Risk attempts a combination of a thriller with dark humor on a small plane.
- Mark Wahlberg takes a rare villain role.
- The movie blends claustrophobic spaces with visual exterior landscapes which contrasts characters’ interior states of mind.
- Initial reviews showcase an odd combination of styles and not a desired result in many areas.
- Overall reception at the box office was disappointing while streaming information is not yet fully developed.