Next up in the Best of 2012 awards is the Ghost Protocol Award for best action sequence.
The list of contenders for this honor was packed with strong options. From the raid at the end of Zero Dark Thirty to Life of Pi's strangely beautiful shipwreck sequence to any number of candidates from Skyfall, Django Unchained, Chronicle, Haywire or The Grey.
But when it came time to choose it felt deeply wrong to choose anything but this white knuckler from an old master:
The Plane Crash from Flight
The buildup to this harrowing scene is so confident it essentially promises the audience a classic sequence. Boy does it deliver.
The editing and sound design on display are flawless but it's the unsettling details that make the scene. From the black box message to the panicking co-pilot to the unforgettable image of the inverted plan hurtling to the Earth, the scene unfolds with a stomach-churning nightmare logic that goes beyond simple suspense.
Can't argue with your choice. Although, my number one scene of the year (any scene in general, not just actions) is the abortion sequence from Prometheus and if that counts as action (it sure is as thrilling as all the ones above) that would be my number one. It's interesting, because that's a film I otherwise dislike, but sequence was so vivid.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't classify it as action, but I am with you 100% as to its brilliance as a stand alone scene. Expect to see it pop up in future year in review coverage.
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