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(Di., 17. Jan. • Leicester Square • 19:30
Cineworld Cinema London Wandsworth • 19:30)
"Plane"
In the white-knuckle action movie "Plane", pilot Brodie Torrance (Gerard Butler) saves his passengers from a lightning strike by making a risky landing on a war-torn island, only to find that surviving the landing was just the beginning. When most of the passengers are taken hostage by dangerous rebels, the only person Torrance can count on for help is Louis Gaspare (Mike Colter), an accused murderer who was being transported by the FBI. In order to rescue the passengers, Torrance will need Gaspare’s help, and will learn there’s more to him than meets the eye.
"Plane" puts a spin on that; Torrance is an ordinary guy, who's, in a sense, outmatched and in over his head. He could never have anticipated the forces he’s going up against after his plane crashes, or the partner Torrance takes on at a critical moment. He must make an emergency landing in one of the most dangerous places on Earth, and is hurtled into a situation where every minute matters, and those minutes can be counted in every life lost or saved. But "Plane" and Torrance, offer additional and intriguing dimensions, imbuing the character with a fierce sense of responsibility. He knows what he must do, and will somehow find the strength to do it. Though he has no tactical experience in combating dangerous rebels, he feels a deep responsibility to his passengers. After the emergency landing, he’ll go above and beyond to protect his passengers and get them home. He’s a man on a mission. The arrival of the prisoner on the flight is unforeseen, but Torrance is determined that the quietly powerful presence of a dangerous felon on his plane will have minimal impact on the passengers’ journey. Gaspare, though a bigger than life figure, seems equally determined to just get through the flight. He’s brought aboard in handcuffs, but they’re very discreet, Gapare is an observer. He’ll get involved in a situation only if it’s necessary. Gaspare doesn’t lead the charge but he’s available, if needed..
Gaspare is not in prison garb, and there’s an FBI agent with him always to make sure he stays quiet. While Torrance begins his herculean efforts to keep his passengers safe, he's joined by a surprising ally, convict Louis Gaspare, who had been brought aboard the flight at the last minute for extradition. When Torrance makes his heroic landing and the passengers are taken hostage, he must rely on Gaspare, who's the last person he’d expect to help, battle a ruthless band of pirates. Torrance discovers there’s more to him than meets the eye, and that redemption can be found in the most unusual of places. Gaspare will keep you guessing because you’re never sure about his motivations. Will he help Torrance, and if so, why? What's his ultimate plan? Gaspare is brilliant and believable as the complex, stoic and capable passenger/prisoner. In the end, he’s the one guy nobody really wants, but becomes the guy everybody needs. After Torrance’s reluctant request for help, Gaspare springs into action, proving to be a more than capable partner for the embattled pilot. It isn’t long before Torrance sizes him up, and surmises that his new ally has faced similar situations before, with Gaspare revealing he had been a member of the French Foreign Legion. Gaspare joined that legendary corps to avoid, as he puts it, rotting in prison. He has been through war time, dealing with insurgents. This is the perfect opportunity to make amends for his past.
The plane’s crew includes co-pilot Samuel Dele (Yoson An Mulan, and head flight attendant Bonnie (Daniella Pineda). Dele proves more than capable as he works with Torrance to somehow land a plane that’s lost all power, and then takes charge of the surviving passengers after Torrance and Gaspare head off to seek help. Bonnie, like Dele, also steps up to help attend to the survivors, and shows what she’s truly made of when captured by the pirates. Bonnie is a kind of mother hen to all the characters, because as head flight attendant she’s charged with the safety of everyone on board. But due to the dire circumstances in which they find themselves, she and fellow flight attendant Maria (Amber Rivera) becomes a working machine that must figure out how to keep everyone alive. They’re the ones that the passengers are looking to for help. They’re not allowed to be terrified or show any emotion. Some of the passengers make an impossible situation even more so, including Sinclair (Joey Slotnick), a businessman/jerk who offers only complaints and young social media stars Katie (Kelly Gale) and Brie (Lilly Krug). Jim Lake (Pete Scobell) is a member of the elite team, who recalls the circumstances that led him and Adeleke to join the "Plane" unit. Lake and the other mercenaries are a part of the world of military contracting, who step in when the government can’t.
"Plane" originated with an idea from Scottish novelist Charles Cumming, the esteemed author of the spy thrillers 'Box 88' and 'The Man Between'. "Plane" is a classical action story. And it’s not just action; there’s a lot of tension, which can be equally compelling. We really care about those people on the plane, who find themselves in an almost impossible situation. We understand what they’re facing, and we're right there on the plane, and then in the jungle with them. Even the pirates are based on a real militia group; they're terrifying. Part of the experience of "Plane" is getting to know these very different characters and how they’ll react to the incredibly dangerous situation they’ve been hurled into. That attention to detail and realism marks a visceral one-on-one fight scene that has Torrance battling a pirate that finds the pilot trying to contact the outside world. It’s two minutes of intense, no-holds-barred, and brutal hand-to-hand combat, all of which is captured in one take. Will they band together, or will their fears tear them apart? It’s all about pure grit, desperation, and tenacity.
How do you kill people in a plane? It's disruptive and visceral. The jungle creates a sense of depth. The airline situation room, with it's wood paneling and high-tech comms, provides a stark contrast to the jungle. Of course, it’s a much cleaner and sophisticated environment. The film wants to bring a combination of tech, class, and stylization, but it feels not always corporate and upscale. This movie begs to be seen on a very large screen with a glorious sound system, and for audiences to be immersed with it. "Plane" is one of those big commercial movies that satisfies our love of action movies.
Written by Gregory Mann
