7500

I'm really, really ready for the movies to come back. 

I miss going to a theater. 

I miss the big, loud blockbusters that we seemingly haven't had since...what...1917? 

And most of all? I'm tired of shoehorning in mediocre films just so I can have something "new" to write about. (Note to self: get back on that Retro Reviews train!)

7500 is an Amazon Prime original that will likely get some *slightly* increased attention in what's a fairly quiet weekend once again for new releases that we can watch at home. But at least it doesn't cost $20 to rent!

It's not a bad film, but instead just one that feels like its...there. It's one that in a normal movie landscape I wouldn't have made time for and that probably wouldn't have been released during the summer months. Its main pull is Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who hasn't been at the forefront of much lately. He himself - as much as I like him - isn't that much of a pull, and the premise of a hijacking on a plane has been done before. But (!), it's also a premise that if done right can tap into a lot of fears and sensitivities around the subject that people have (for obvious reasons) and can thus be effective. United 93 for example, while tragically based on a true story, was incredibly intense and emotional because of the realness with which it depicted the hijacking on 9/11. 

7500 in that regard doesn't connect as well and is frustratingly confined to the cockpit of the plane nearly the entire time. One one hand it's impressive that it can mostly hold your attention while being in a small space for that long, but on the other hand, it's hard not to want to see how the passengers are dealing with the situation or what's happening in the back of the plane. And, as I've noticed in my movie-watching career, "single location" films just really don't do it for me. I want there to be movement, different locations, transportation, and change. 7500 is claustrophobically resistant to go outside the cockpit. An artistic choice, yes, but not one I'm pumped about. 

"Hello? Mr. Nolan? Why am I not in Tenet?"

7500 hinges on realism to the point of annoyance, but it's also what kept me in the film. You start to learn that it's not going to pull any of its punches nor is Joseph Gordon Levitt's character all of the sudden going to turn into an action star. This makes it wickedly intense at the beginning and several points throughout, but also leads to down time that hurts the pace of the film. Perhaps worst, is the "realism" around highly annoying things. One example that won't spoil anything would be once the cockpit is locked and the terrorists can't get in, they bang on it. Again. And again. And again. And about 500 more times just for good measure. Would that happen in a real hijacking? You bet your ass it would; they'd be doing everything they can to get in there. Does that decision translate well into a film? No. It's f**king annoying similar to the way everyone yelling at the top of their lungs in Uncut Gems was. It grates on you

Luckily we've got Joseph Gordon Levitt as the cornerstone of the film and while I don't think he's going to win any awards for his performance, it is a commendable one. Full of emotion, panic, rage, and sadness as a captain trying to do his job while managing his own reaction to the situation. I'm sure it was a challenging role given that there's not much to work with just being in the cockpit, but he elevates the film with his talent. 

Otherwise, there's not much to say about 7500. It ends really abruptly and frustratingly - begging for some more closure - and it's not something you're going to remember once the big films come back and our butts are in theaters. It gets points from its initial intensity, its central performance, and its realism, but it's also a hard film to recommend because of how grating it can become and how confined it is. 

CONS

• I've never really been a fan of single location films. This film didn't do anything to change that
• The "realism" is recognized in a few very annoying ways that make the film difficult to get through. Best example is the incessant pounding on the cockpit door, but there are a few others
• Loses steam partway through and can't quite pick it up again
• Abrupt ending
• Not super memorable

PROS

• High-intensity at the beginning. Largely due to its realism
• Doesn't pull punches, making it feel like it could really go anywhere
• JGL is a strong building block that does a solid job and elevates the film

Rath's Review Score | 6/10