A more awards friendly film from Paul Greengrass, even though stylistically it still has both of its feet firmly planted in that Jason Bourne style of filmmaking. Now, because that franchise rejects a lot of Hollywood conventions, the filmmaking here still feels respectful to the event. The subtle tricks of building tension are all there (close-ups of nervous people; people talking over each other; quick edits & a lot of handheld), which works for me. The difference is that Greengrass can’t fall back on set pieces or a pounding John Powell score, so that means that the storytelling becomes more important. Unfortunately, this is where the film struggles. I think the approach makes the end result come across as cold. It’s spreading time between a lot of different locations, and because of that you’re not really drawn in by any of the characters emotionally. On top of that it’s not that compelling as a story, it’s mostly a very matter-of-fact retelling of events. I like the simple, raw feel of it, but it could be more than just a vehicle for tension. Show me more of the emotional struggle of the other passengers, or focus on the political side as well if we’re not going to contain ourselves to the inside of the cabin. A little more artistic ambition probably would’ve made for a more memorable film, but this is still a rewarding (and tough) watch.

6/10