Denzel Washington's other movie dominating Netflix is "Flight." Arguably one of his most notable performances in recent years, Washington plays William "Whip" Whitaker, a commercial pilot struggling with alcoholism and drug abuse. During one of his flights, a mechanical failure sends the plane into a nose dive, and the intoxicated Captain miraculously crash-lands the vessel, saving nearly everybody on board. Although Whip didn't cause the accident, the ensuing investigation brings his struggle with addiction to light.
As if Washington's incredible performance wasn't enough to draw audiences in, "Flight" was also director Robert Zemeckis' first live-action film since "Cast Away." In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the director called the movie "the extension of 'Back to the Future,'" saying that Washington's character's substance abuse puts him in a similar "isolated" situation to Marty McFly.
As is practically customary for any Washington performance, "Flight" received immense praise from critics, scoring a certified fresh 77% on Rotten Tomatoes. Award season also treated the film kindly, with Washington earning numerous nominations for his performance, including an Oscar, Golden Globe, and SAG Award. Although "Flight" couldn't secure any of the high-profile awards, it continued adding to Washington's and Zemeckis' already impressive resumes.
With both "Flight" and "American Gangster" available to stream on Netflix, there's no better time to watch two of Washington's most memorable performances.
