Ground Control (1998)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

Richard Howard

Writers:

Talaat Captan (story) and
Robert Moreland (story) ...

Release Date:

26 August 1998 (Italy)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

No Radar. No Contact. No Control.

Plot:

A disgraced former air traffic controller is called back into service when the airport's traffic control system malfunctions.

Plot Keywords:

Airport | Storm | Air Traffic Controller | Flight Attendant | Emergency Landing

Cast

Kiefer Sutherland	...	Jack Harris
Bruce McGill	...	T.C. Bryant
Kristy Swanson	...	Julie Albrecht
Robert Sean Leonard	...	Cruise
Kelly McGillis	...	Susan Stratton
Margaret Cho	...	Amanda
Ruben Paul	...	Sam
Charles Fleischer	...	Randy
Henry Winkler	...	John Quinn
Farrah Forke	...	Laura Franklin
Michael Gross	...	Murray
Vito D'Ambrosio	...	Weather Analyst
Jack Plotnick	...	Curtis
Mike Kimmel	...	Pudgy
Brian George	...	Shamaal

Also Known As:

Jet (UK) (video title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for brief strong language.

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:15 | Iceland:12 | USA:PG-13 | Spain:T | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Green Communications

Goofs:

Continuity: The 737 that has the emergency situation toward the end of the film changes between a Boeing 747 and a Boeing 737 several times when shown from the outside.

Rather good movie

General Synopsis of the movie is that after a crash, a top rated Air traffic controller leaves the business. Then 5 years later is brought back for one night due to the facility being understaffed and too many planes coming in....

This movie actually should have been pegged as a drama instead of action/adventure...but be that as it may, it was rather good. One could go on and on about how it isn't realistic, but in truth...how many movies really are?

The title role of Jack Harris is played by Kiefer Sutherland. This is a key factor to the movies success. His uncanny ability to visibly portray emotions is essential to the role. As usual, he brings the "I'll do anything to make me a human on film" trademark with him. (Anyone for getting sick in the bathroom sink?) This trademark is what has endeared him over the years to so many fans and critics alike.

Also Staring were Robert Sean Leonard as the cocky hotshot air traffic controller; Bruce McGill as the overworked supervisor who pleads with Jack to come back, even if just for one night; Kelly McGillis as the politically minded administrator (she ends up being a good guy in the end); Kristy Swanson as the "newbie" air traffic controller fresh out of the academy; and our beloved Henry Winkler as the facility mechanic who keeps everything running, even though the equipment is old and some without replacement.

Although the movie is meant to "entertain", the whole crux of the movie is to tell a story about being an Air Traffic Controller and the absolute stress behind that job. This is something they did quite well.

All in all, it was a rather good film. It will hold interest up until the end and has a very climatic, edge of your seat, finish.

Who will like this movie? 1. Probably air traffic controllers (even though it might not be completely factual) 2. People who like a good human interest story 3. The over 40 crowd. 4. Kiefer fans

Who will not like this movie? Those whose mentalities require constant barrages of special effects, action, cussing, sex, violence and/or blood…pass on this one, it won't fill your needs.

Ending notes: If you fall into the "who will like this movie" group…definitely give it a try. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.