Film

What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases

Search cinema listings

Browse cinemas A-Z

Search 20,000 reviews

 

The Theory of Flight (1998)

Director: Paul Greengrass

Average user rating
No reviews

Movie review

From Time Out Film Guide

Bonham Carter is in a wheelchair with Motor Neurone Disease. Branagh is the quirky artist who keeps her company while building his own flying machine. The combination of luvvies, disability, whimsy and feelgood sentiment hardly makes for an enticing set-up, so the merest suggestion that this is not quite as bad as it sounds is actually modest praise. The heart does sink when we first see Branagh plunging off the Royal Exchange with his man-made wings, but the more we get to know him the more likeable this screwed-up grim bastard seems. The court sentences him to community service in the countryside, which means pushing Bonham Carter's wheelchair around after her testy temperament has driven off a host of other would-be carers. Her terminal condition destroys the muscles but leaves the mind intact, pissed off with life, swearing like a trooper and more than ready for a shag. These qualities make her and Branagh well-matched, but even he initially baulks when she asks for his help in returning to London and hiring a gigolo to take her virginity. Richard Hawkins' screenplay is all the more effective for its surprising lack of slushiness - yet there does come a point when the film simply loses its bottle and becomes dismayingly gooey for the final reel.

Author: TJ 0000-00-00 00:00:00

Time Out Film Guide


  • Print this page
  • Send to a friend

What do you think?
Post your review now

clear rating
Min 1 star. Zero stars will be treated as unrated.

*mandatory fields





Top Stories

Stephen Poliakoff discusses 'Glorious 39'

Stephen Poliakoff discusses 'Glorious 39'

Stephen Poliakoff’s ‘Glorious 39’ is his first film for cinema since ‘Food of Love’ in 1997. Dave Calhoun met him

Is 'Paranormal Activity' the new 'Blair Witch'?

Is 'Paranormal Activity' the new 'Blair Witch'?

How does a film go from DIY experiment to box-office smash? 'Paranormal Activity' director Oren Peli explains

Steven Soderbergh on 'The Informant!' and 'The Girlfriend Experience'

Steven Soderbergh on 'The Informant!' and 'The Girlfriend Experience'

We talk to Steven Soderbergh about his two forthcoming films: one featuring a porn star, the other a chubby Matt Damon

A gateway to all things 'New Moon'

A gateway to all things 'New Moon'

In anticipation of 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon', Time Out is offering the chance to pick up a limited edition pack with three exclusive magazines and a free poster.

London Children's Film Festival

London Children's Film Festival

Read our exclusive reviews of films playing at the 2009 London Children’s Film Festival

The films that deserve a TV spin-off

The films that deserve a TV spin-off

With Roland Emmerich suggesting he'd like to make a '2012' TV spin-off, we propose some more movie-to-TV serialisations

The Coen brothers discuss 'A Serious Man'

The Coen brothers discuss 'A Serious Man'

Masters of contrary comedy, Joel and Ethan Coen have struck gold again with their latest, ‘A Serious Man’

Michael Haneke discusses 'The White Ribbon'

Michael Haneke discusses 'The White Ribbon'

Dave Calhoun met with Michael Haneke in Munich to mull over the details of his Palme d'Or winner, 'The White Ribbon'

Ten inspirations behind 'Avatar'?

Ten inspirations behind 'Avatar'?

Time Out ponders the influences behind James Cameron's anticipated space-opera on the basis of the trailer

Time Out's 50 greatest animated films with commentary by Terry Gilliam

Time Out's 50 greatest animated films with commentary by Terry Gilliam

In celebration of the release of Pixar's 'Up' and Wes Anderson's 'Fantastic Mr Fox', read our rundown of fifty classic feature length animations