newjerseynewsroom.com

BY PAULA SCHWARTZ

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Here's a movie we're sure you'll never see on one of your transatlantic plane flights.

Paramount has just released a trailer for the new Denzel Washington film "Flight," which will be released in theaters Nov. 2.

The "Training Day" Academy Award-winner looks pretty cool - and grim - as Captain Whitaker in his shades and pilot uniform. The trailer begins with Denzel's character landing a full plane in a scenario reminiscent of real-life "Miracle on 34th Street," which took place January 15, 2009, when pilot Chesley B. Sullenberger III, unable to get back to La Guardia, made a decision to avoid the densely populated areas of Manhattan and landed his plane safely in the Hudson River, getting all his 150 passengers to safety.

Things turn out a little differently in "Flight." After crash-landing his plane, Washington's character wakes up in a hospital bed being told by a man, who may or may not be his boss – and who is played by Bruce Greenwood - that "The way you landed the plane was nothing short of a miracle. You saved a lot of lives."

Soon after that, about a minute and a half into the trailer, it becomes clear this isn't the US Airways jetliner story. All to the soundtrack of the Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter," the movie turns dark and not at all what it initially seemed when allegations soon arise that Denzel's character may have had a high alcohol level in his system when his airplane fell apart at 30,000 feet. Denzel plays a complicated and arrogant man - his specialty - and is soon defending himself and boasting that, "No one could have landed that plane like I did." Some pretty combative courtroom scenes follow and Denzel's character is soon fighting for his life and reputation.

The movie also stars Don Cheadle as Washington’s defense lawyer, Melissa Leo as head of an airline investigation committee and John Goodman as the captain's pal.

The film is directed by Robert Zemeckis, who is directing his first live-action film in 12 years. He directed all three of the "Back to the Future" movies, including the original back in 1985. The directer has most recently directed "A Christmas Carol" (2009), "The Polar Express" (2004) and "Beowulf" (2007), which weren't exactly hits. His most popular films, along with the "Future" franchise films, are "Forrest Gump" (1994) and "Cast Away" (2000). Denzel Washington last starred as a rogue superagent in this year's "Safe House."