“Flight Risk” sounds like anything other than…on paper.
Director Mel Gibson previously gave us “Apocalypto,” “Hacksaw Ridge,” and “The Passion of the Christ.” That’s a solid record in anyone’s estimation.
Star Mark Wahlberg is a Hollywood veteran who knows his way around a thriller. It seems to be playing against type according to early reports.
This is another interesting angle. Plus, the trailer looks like catnip for fans of the genre.
However, this reviewer couldn’t view the film before its late Thursday release, which often (but not always) indicates that the studio lacks confidence in the product. Other critics, according to World of Reel, couldn’t share their opinions on the film until the last minute.
This type of review ban is another red flag. What does it give? a job It is suggested that reviewers may He approached the film differently Because of the Gibson factor.
To be sure, critics have already begun sharpening their knives against Gibson’s film.
The star Infamous fall from grace His career could have turned around, but he was able to rebuild it slowly over time.
Some still hold his heinous behavior against him. On a personal level, this is understandable. He said some terrible, terrible things. Variety magazine wondered why Gibson continued his career in… Incendiary editorial 2020
It is not too outlandish to suggest that film critics still hold a grudge for this reason. And there’s something else in the works, a more recent development that could turn some critics against Gibson’s film.
The star spoke out against former Vice President Kamala Harris near the end of the 2024 presidential campaign. The Democrat said “He had the IQ of a fence post.”
He also threw his support behind Donald Trump at the same time.
Recently, President Trump chose the actor/director to lead an informal group to bring back the “Golden Age” of Hollywood.
This Trump connection doesn’t do Gibson much good in far-left Hollywood. The same is true within the critics community.
Film reviewers overwhelmingly lean left, and this is reflected in select reviews. Let us consider here the gap between professional critics and the general public compared to the biographical film “Reagan,” which was released last year.
Moviegoers will judge for themselves when “Flight Risk” opens in wide release this weekend. Sometimes a studio’s decision to stop reviews makes sense.
A critical community will not be kind and rightly so.
However, some films have been hidden from critics and have continued to perform well at the box office and/or provide solid entertainment.
The mystery comes into focus once “Flight Risk” opens Thursday night.