FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX (***)
I can only guess as to whether FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX is better than the original film (1965) it was based on. But on its own, it is solid entertainment, showing wondrous desert cinematography, impressive special effects (designed to serve the story, not supplant it) and an absorbingly clear-cut plot that doesn’t have time for nonsense. Like ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13, it plays against its rules with great skill and logic.
The movie’s trailer tells us all we need to know. An aircraft full of people crashes in a wasteland, their chances of survival are low, and their only hope of escape is to build a rudimentary plane from the wreckage of one that crashed (hence the name, Phoenix). The plane’s passengers have been picked up from a closed down Mongolian oil refinery in the middle of the Gobi desert. Frank Towns (Dennis Quaid) is the pilot (twice) assigned to get them out of the desert.
A wildcard is added to the mix, and his name is Elliot (Giovanni Ribisi). He isn’t listed in the passenger list that Frank and A.J. (Tyrese Gibson) are supposed to ship out. But as soon as the crew enters their predicament, he is the only one precocious enough to thoroughly analyze what they need to leave it. Though his intelligence is highly valued, it is clearly as big as his ego. He correctly deems himself indispensable, and in turn becomes one of key points the movie’s logic has to play against. He also has a secret towards the end of the film, which is not a huge twist, a deus ex machina, or a cheat. But it surprised me, and its creativeness is one of the films treats.
To analyze the worthiness of this film is to repeat my review of ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13. It presents a dilemma with rules, and presents a solution in a steadfast and interesting manner. Several dangers appear wherein key decision-makers have to analyze what to do in order to survive, and those decisions are wise, if not the best-guess scenarios they can come up with. I also enjoyed some of the short and sweet philosophies shared by Rady (Kevork Malikyan). As well as the corporate officer Ian (Hugh Laurie), who instead of becoming one of the baddies, does his best to shed his self-serving tendencies in order to contribute whatever the team needs.
The movie has one gorgeous piece of eye candy, which is a crash-landing sequence amidst a giant sandstorm (which looks like a firestorm compared to the one in HIDALGO). It is one of the best I have witnessed, on par with those in ALIVE and PITCH BLACK. Its thrills reminded me of an equally exciting aerial action sequence in BEHIND THE ENEMY LINES (the only good thing in that movie I might add), and no wonder, director John Moore helmed that one too.
The film’s cast is, like ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13, better than it has any right to be. Miranda Otto is here; displaying that same hard-nosed beauty she wonderfully played in the last two LORD OF THE RINGS movies as Eowyn. The talented and often unappreciated Jacob Vargas is endearing as Sammi, the crew’s chef (He is quickly becoming the next Luiz Guzman). Tyrese Gibson (yes, the singer) is a revelation as A.J. He never hams it up as he did in 2 FAST 2 FURIOUS, and proves that his performance in John Singleton’s BABY BOY was no fluke. Sadly, the weakest performance is by Kirk Jones (aka rapper Sticky Fingaz), but he does well with what he can, and provides some nice "what if" shots (you'll know it when you see it).
Dennis Quaid, he of the big goofy grin and plucky everyman quality, is sound as Frank Towns. He has the uncanny ability to play tough men with hints of doubt, without making them lose any dignity. And who would have thought that in a hot and humid atmosphere, where we expect big buffed men such as Tyrese and Sticky Fingaz to show their impressive physiques, that Mr. Quaid would get to show off his astonishing abs? If he can do this at 51, all is not lost for me.
The movie is not all about looks. It has purposeful pacing, and builds to a nice climactic takeoff. It also has some of the most sensous sand dune images caught on film (looking like female curves cascading against one another). Yes the film has several convenient moments, but the very idea of building an aircraft from one that has crashed is in itself highly improbable. But if it were even remotely possible, FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX has a few good ideas that take flight.