Life in Flight

19 January 2012. Not since Closer (2004) has a movie presented the dynamics of human relationships. With Life in Flight, it is both more simple and less intensely dramatic and polished, yet at the same time it is more subtle and in some ways more authentic in its depiction and resonating of real life though it comes off with less energy and compelling appeal. It's depiction and presentation style is more in line with Lars and the Real Girl (2007) though addressing different familial subject matter. In some ways there's a bit of the self-reflective element of Anne Hathaway's character as found in The Devil Wears Prada (2006) and the existential dilemma as found in Sliding Doors (1998) which in that movie's case was even more imaginatively done as more captivating. Nor does Life in Flight have the sharpness and singular dramatic crisp bite of American Beauty (2000) nor Shopgirl (2005). Nevertheless, Life in Flight has a substantive quality pertinent to contemporary life and provokes valuable reflection on living in today's world.

Saw this at Tribeca Film Festival and was surprised by the wretched writing. The cast is professional, and the photography, set and production design are all first class. The problem is a script that presents a somewhat dopey male lead, an unredeemable monster (b*tch) of a wife, and a seven-year-itch scenario.

The result is good actors reciting bad lines in overwrought scenes. We bought these tickets expecting that a cast including Patrick Wilson, Amy Smart and several other fine actors would deliver a good result. Tied to that script, they couldn't stay afloat.

The movie inspires me to create a new rule for young filmmakers: don't write a script with an architect as your main character, unless you are remaking "The Fountainhead." And don't remake "The Fountainhead."

Patrick Wilson usually makes good choices!

Unfortunately this film wasn't one of them. It was painful very painful to watch his movie. Hopefully Patrick Wilson will read the next script before he agrees to be in it! I really do wonder how it even has a three star rating, those people Musta had some really good weed or brownies While watching. I love the LITTLE CHILDREN! Instead of watching this movie you should watch that one.

I liked this movie. The dialogue felt natural, the conversations unforced and believable. The story explores, in a subtle, non-judgmental way, two people at an emotional crossroads. The wife didn't strike me as shrewish, but rather as oriented to success, not the best match for her husband, who was more reflective, more questioning. I've been there in my own way, so I can relate. I liked the ending. Like the rest of the movie, it felt natural, unforced, organic. The casting was good, with the exception of Fred Weller, who is distractingly obnoxious, which, according to what I've seen him in so far, seems to be his default role. In spite of that, this quiet study made me think, and do some questioning of my own.

Great movie despite the mediocre cast. Inspiring, shows that life is more than the chase for a dollar and selling out in order to feel like you can become someone. The movie is about staying true to nature of being human. I thought it was great because it inspires the search for something real not materialistic but soulful in the concrete jungle where the human connection has been displaced by sensual pleasures and the endless chase for the next big thing and happiness thats never found. The movie inspires stepping back and evaluating life's values, slowing down, smelling the roses and hearing the long lost voice of the yearning soul within self as well as someone else. I recommend this movie to everyone.