Opening Day: 8 January 2009

Synopsis:

After a plane crash, a young therapist, Claire (Anne Hathaway), is assigned by her mentor (Andre Braugher) to counsel the flight's five survivors. When they share their recollections of the incident – which some say include an explosion that the airline claims never happened – Claire is intrigued by Eric (Patrick Wilson), the most secretive of the passengers. Just as Claire's professional relationship with Eric – despite her better judgment – blossoms into a romance, the survivors begin to disappear mysteriously, one by one. Claire suspects that Eric may hold all the answers and becomes determined to uncover the truth, no matter the consequences.

Movie Review:

It’s a wonder what the creators of this film were thinking when they set out to make it. Unfortunately, I don’t think that by the end of it, they actually knew. That explains why this movie, billed as a supernatural thriller, is actually much less so.

Rather, it plays as a mishmash of a romantic comedy, a conspiracy mystery, and a sensitive portrait of coping with trauma. The result is exactly what you would expect- nothing less than a muddled mess. And that in itself is a mystery, because Rodrigo Garcia has more than proven that he’s a worthy director- from his promising debut Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her and Nine Lives, to his work in highly acclaimed TV series Carnivale and Six Feet Under.

The story begins with Clare (Anne Hathaway), a grief counsellor assigned by her supervisor (Andre Braugher) to six passengers who miraculously survived a horrific plane crash. Clare’s role is ostensibly to help her patients deal with the trauma, but as she speaks to the survivors, she begins to play detective as well, trying to figure out if the plane exploded and crashed or the other way round as some of them recall.

But that’s not the only way she steps out of line- she also begins to take a mutual interest in one handsome survivor, Eric (Patrick Wilson). Somewhere within that semblance of a plot, writer Ronnie Christensen also throws in a creepy airline representative (David Morse) who may be covering up the reason for the crash, and some other suspicious-looking strangers lurking outside where Clare conducts her group therapy sessions.

Well that’s not the only inexplicable thing that this film poses. One wonders also how it managed to assemble a reputable cast of actors like Anne Hathaway, Patrick Wilson, David Morse, Andre Braugher and Dianne Wiest. My guess is they (and the film’s writer) thought that the twist ending- done M Night Shyamalan style- will be powerful enough to redeem the rest of the hogwash. Alas it only exposes bare how ridiculous the entire premise is.

Not that the cast doesn’t try. With her wide, frightened eyes, Anne Hathaway tries her best to inject some life into a deadened script but she has proven (with her other far superior movie, Rachel Getting Married, opening this week as well) that she is capable of so much more. Even Clea DuVall, as one of Clare’s patients, shines in a small supporting role. Sadly, the material simply lets them down.

Indeed, there is very little in this movie to justify it being made, let alone enjoy a theatrical release. Granted that the ending may have made this seem appealing as a concept, but its terrible execution has regrettably let it down. Now that you know this ride’s going to crash and burn, the wisest thing to do is stay away from it.

Movie Rating:



(You’ve been warned- stay away from this flight)

Review by Gabriel Chong