Amazon Studios’ 7500, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, is heading to Prime Video on June 19th. When terrorists try to seize control of a Berlin-Paris flight, a mild-mannered young American co-pilot struggles to save the lives of the passengers and crew.
Here is Gadi Elkon’s review of 7500.
German filmmaker Patrick Vollrath’s feature debut is a heart-pounding look into the worst case scenario for a pilot. Vollrath showcases tremendous ability to apply his bold filmmaking choices into this tightly wounded anxiety thriller. The pacing is perfectly ebbed and flowed with the many procedures and duties pilots undertake to take passengers across the globe. The film’s title comes from a safety procedure that allows for ground crews to know a plane has been or is being hijacked. Vollrath seems in complete control when the film is in a state of voyeur to the action. The opening title sequence goes a long way in highlighting Vollrath’s distant but intrusive filmmaking style. Not only is the film tense it also is stylish enough to help give Vollrath a potential calling card.
The film rarely leaves the cockpit of our Berlin-Paris flight that is co-piloted by tempered American Tobias Ellis. As an audience we must live through the performance of Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Tobias. It is this tremendous performance that the merit of the film really stands. The film’s other performances are realistic and well done but lack the attention we are given to Tobias. Every emotional connection revolves around Gordon-Levitt’s portrayal. As much as Vollrath is showcasing his talents so to is JGL expanding his range as a dramatic actor. A nice stepping piece that should garner award recognition for both JGL and Vollrath.
The film reminded me a lot of Paul Greengrass’ CAPTAIN PHILLIPS starring Tom Hanks and Barkhad Abdi. Now both films showcase bold choices in point of view and amp up the tension perfectly well. The real major difference is Hanks got to work off Abdi’s performance. That film allowed it’s hijacker to have a real depth and Abdi’s performance was justly recognized as much as Hanks amazing emotional roller coaster of a portrayal. 7500 does have a sympathetic character in Vedat played by Omid Memar. I won’t spoil his unique character shift and how it impacted the plot, but unlike Captain Phillips we aren’t given a real connecting element to Vedat’s world. Other than the lack of a fleshed out hijacker the film is easily one of the year’s real gems.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Patrick Vollrath both should be highly applauded for bringing us this spine-tingling film.
I give the film a 4 out of 5 stars and hope you will jump on board this wild ride.
Directed by: Patrick Vollrath
Written by: Patrick Vollrath, Senad Halilbasic
Rated R
Running Time: 1hr 32min
Drama / Thriller
On-Demand Release: Amazon Prime Now.
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Omid Memar, Murathan Muslu, Carlo Kitzlinger, Aylin Tezel
Selig Rating: 4 Stars
The Selig Rating Scale:
5 Stars – Excellent movie, well worth the price.
4 Stars – Good movie
3 Stars – OK movie
2 Stars – No need to rush. Save it for a rainy day.
1 Star – Good that I saw it on the big screen but wish I hadn’t paid for it.
