Change Your Image
ggelvin
Reviews
Flightplan (2005)
Here's what really happened
This story was obviously told by the survivors, but on closer examination, the truth reveals itself.
As the movie is told, we're expected to believe that Carson has planned a horrifically elaborate extortion plot with flight attendant Fiona.
Before we meet him, he's found Kyle, the jet's designer, killed her husband, planted explosives in his coffin, arranged to be the marshal on the flight Kyle chooses to fly her husband's body to the U.S., arranged for Fiona to be working that flight, and somehow changed public records to reflect the death of Kyle's daughter, Julia. OK, maybe. If he's the super-brilliant, criminal mastermind we're so used to seeing in the movies, that's all well and good.
But his plan is based on the idea that he's going to abduct Julia from her pathologically protective mother unnoticed. He anticipates that Kyle will go berserk looking for her daughter and give him free rein on the plane.
Pulease.
Perhaps no one seeing Jullia for FOUR HOURS is just a lucky accident that makes Carson's cover story more convincing. Bt that doesn't begin to cover it.
That he is able to spirit her away from her mother is bad enough. His little speech about being able to abduct the girl without arousing suspicion because he is a person of authority (authority not known at the time of the abduction!) is hogwash. If a man lays hands on a six year old girl, people look, even if he's wearing a clerical collar. Well... maybe that's a bad example, but you get the idea. Had anyone remembered him around the girl, his plans would have been done in.
And his meticulous plan demands that he FORESEE getting the child from her mother and taking the girl unseen, unremembered by anyone.
So here's what really happened...
Kyle was the mastermind. She scans the internet reading news, looking for the death of a father and child under suspicious circumstances. She abducts a child of the same age, drugs her (or him), stows her in a coffin and boards the plane masquerading as the bereaved spouse.
She pretends that her child is missing, runs amok, and then quietly relays her ransom demands to Carson. To everyone else, she maintains the pretext of looking for her daughter. This enhances her credibility at the denouement.
The money is transferred to the mysterious account and the plane is emptied, except for four people.
With Fiona's help, Kyle overpowers Carson. She gets the girl and the explosives out of the coffin. Fiona goes out and confesses her part in Carson's plot. Kyle detonates the explosives, killing Carson - the only person who could refute any of this - and disembarks.
When the child begins to wake up, she drugs her again and drives off into the sunset. Later, she kills the child and dumps the body.
Fiona is arraigned; a mysterious friend posts bail.
Kyle and Fiona leave on an international plane under new identities for parts unknown. Now I'm not saying they're lesbian lovers, but you just never know, you know? --- I love Jodie Foster; tell me please did she read the whole script before she agreed to do this movie?
The Cell (2000)
Stunning visuals
The imagery is absolutely stunning. And although the plot was not credible some allowance should be made for lofty goals. There is a lot of originality in the movie.
The acting is always credible although the actors are continuously overshadowed by the cinematography.
If you're into moviemaking and horror, you ought to see this one.
Sacrifice (2000)
Laughably bad
The "plot" of this movie has more holes in it than a brillo pad. FBI agents in cars can't keep up with Michael Madsen loping down a country road -- the same road that all the pointless chase scenes were filmed on.
Can you imagine a bank robber burying his loot in anticipation of incarceration then escape? How about if he buries his favorite jacket with it? Did Madsen have costume approval or something?
This is a great movie if you love coincidences. From the very conventional turning on the TV to find the announcer saying, "The latest Sweetwater killer victim..." to the imaginative: having the first four victims of the killer be women wearing uniforms. The sudden unslaught of a hurricane at the climactic scene, the sudden appearance of a laser scope on Madsen's gun, the mob boss who apparently doesn't miss his girlfriend when she's off with Madsen for a week... the mind boggles.
The part I found the most unbelievable was his ex-wife's new husband warmly welcoming the escaped bank robber into his home.
On the plus side... let me think... oh yeah. The plot was better than the acting, or editing.