Oct. 13, 2005
 
She Said: Another Take on ‘Flightplan’ Just a C-List Movie from Lifeime;

 
‘Red Eye’ Superior Plane Thriller
 
By Tracey Bush
 
Huntington, WV (Special to HNN) --- "Flightplan" is a far-fetched fiasco that, despite a smooth takeoff and stellar passenger list, nosedives midway, and eventually spirals into the stuff that only C-list Lifetime TV movies, starring Crystal Bernard, Connie Selleca and or Loni Anderson, are made of.
 
In the "been there, dozed off during it," tradition of Sally Field in "Not Without My Daughter," and Michelle Pfeiffer in "The Deep End of The Ocean," Jodie Foster stars as a repressed aircraft engine designer who, after suffering a suspicious family tragedy, is traveling from Germany to America, accompanied by her adorable young daughter-who may, or may not, only be a figment of her imagination...
 
Translation: When Foster awakens from an impromptu nap to find her that child has seemingly vanished, a frantic, panic-driven, search and investigation follows, all of which leads viewers to seriously ponder if the child was actually ever on the plane to begin with.
 
Meanwhile, as Foster gets more and more in touch with her inner "mother tiger," she begins to question every aspect of her trip-including the motives of the cold, yet compassionate, captain played by Sean Bean, the sky marshal-cum-"Key Stoned Cop" who claims to be on her side, and most notably, the stoic crew of overly done up flight attendants, who give viewers the distance impression that their last acting jobs were as extras on the ill-fated "Stepford Wives" remake.
 
Finally, in the film's final act, Foster rolls into her best Sigourney Weaver via "Aliens" impersonation, as the mystery comes to an inappropriate conclusion that will leave viewers saying, "As If?" as opposed to "Hooray!" Thus, in comparison to this fall's other-and very superior-plane ride thriller, "Red Eye," it's this critic's opinion that "Flightplan" should have been renamed, "Black Eye."