Code 7500 - Un avion en détresse

7500 (2019) starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt is not your average thriller/action movie. Where other movies would have shootouts, a bomb go off, the engines fail, or someone sucked out of an open window, 7500 is more realistic. Sure, seeing some reviews about how ATC's demeanor is off or the plane details are wrong is fair. But that is missing the point. A group of Islamic terrorists are attempting to hijack a plane during a standard flight from Berlin to Paris and American first officer Tobias Ellis is the only one who can avert disaster. This movie keeps you on the edge of your seat if you allow it to and is very good.

I don't like aviation movies, they never get more than two things in a row right. This movie hits home somewhat as I'm a pilot (though on a Boeing) and as such it could happen to me, so I was curious as to how bad another aviation movie on this topic could be.

This movie... I was stunned and amazed, I had a genuinely elevated heart rate all throughout watching it. You really feel the lack of movement and placement scripting in the absolute freedom and improvisation of the filming, it is so inconceivably unpredictable and realistic. All the procedures and actions are technically correct too, which can feel superfluous for the people that don't know and care, but is a level of authenticity in movies that I've never seen.

I am advising all my colleagues to see this.

This movie gives an amazingly realistic look at the interplay that exist in actual hijacking scenarios. It is slower in pace and grittier in appearance and direction than what many expect from a Hollywood movie of this type and could be seen as more of a fictional "documentary" which I expect is the reason for the shockingly low reviews seen. However in my opinion the acting and direction of this movie make it one of the best in its genre and well worth watching.

"7500" develops anticipation and builds tension from the opening frames, simulating authentic security camera footage of terrorists getting through airport security, and onto a German airline passenger jet headed to Paris. Once aboard the plane, Vollrath uses a real-time linear scene structure (similar to Mendes' "1917") from the viewpoint of the cockpit and the American co-pilot played with understated perfection by Gorden-Levitt. The film takes hold of the viewer and doesn't let go - the entire film plays like a reenactment of actual events (this is fictional). A fantastic 1st film effort by German Screenwriter/Director Patrick Vollrath.

I'm reviewing this film based on what I believe the filmmakers wanted to achieve by making it, a gritty claustrophobic real-life account of the brutal hijacking of a commercial airline. And that is exactly what I saw, this is not a Hollywood film nor does it have a big budget but that's exactly why it works. One has to look at this film for what it is and not what you may be expecting it to be. If you look at this film solely from the point of view of the co-piolet which is what the film is about then you'll understand that it's not trying to tell a political story or give you insight to why people hijack planes. The runtime is 90 minutes and I was never bored during this entire time. I felt every emotion the protagonist felt and I was totally involved in his plight. No film is perfect and this film is no exception but it made a favourable impression on me that I felt the need to leave a review. This is a little gem of a film and definitely worth 90 minutes of your life if you like these small gritty intense sorts of films. Most of the negative reviews are based on opinions that have nothing to do with storytelling. I would bet that nearly all of the negative reviews came from people who didn't actually watch the film.