Passengers (2008) - A Movie Review

Never forget to live the life that you want.

Passengers is a 2008 film. After a plane crash, only a handful of passengers survive. Assigned as the grief counselor to the group, Clair is taken on an eye-opening journey. Over time, the surviving passengers mysteriously disappear.

I am surprised that Passengers is not talked about more. Depicting a contrasting storytelling technique, Passengers is a resonating film. Life may not be easy, but we’ll always have someone to help us make peace with our demons.

Anne Hathaway is a gifted actress, competent in a wide range of personalities. As a hard-working therapist, Claire still has a lot to learn - on her job and her own pathway in life. Putting other’s needs before her own, Claire has her own practice of how therapy works.

I liked moments where Claire was startled, for example when a paper blew into her face. Hathaway is always terrific at conveying comedy. She also did a tremendous job in the emotional journey of her character. It’s important to live life, instead of working to be the best at your career. Remember to live.

Trauma has multiple definitions. Eric (Patrick Wilson) is stubborn, refusing to let anybody in. Some of his actions and behavior came off as creepy, but it was mainly to supply how it’s not good to keep feelings bottled up. Hathaway and Wilson are terrific in their journey. They studied their interactions closely. No matter what, you will always have a friend.

For a film as complex as this, the cast really dug deep into the meaning behind the story. Credits to mention include David Morse, William B. Davis, Ryan Robbins, Clea DeVall, and the exceptional performances by Andre Braugher and Dianne Wiest.

Despite having no lines, Stacey Grant made an impactful appearance that defined the moral of the story. Sometimes you don’t need any dialogue to make an impact.

Passengers focuses on the characters. I liked how the cast studied contrasting behaviors for grief and trauma. I especially enjoyed DeVall’s performance. Most viewers should find the character relatable. Sometimes we cannot explain how we are feeling.

Passengers has a double meaning. It’s a story about grief. A different type of grief. We all have a different outlook on grief, and that’s okay. In time, we will heal. The message about therapy is an important one. Never be afraid to reach out for help.

The music is melancholic. Sharing two tones, the film surprised me on my first watch. Passengers is a moving film, I will warn you. After watching it a second time, and again for a third time, there are key moments that are so subtle that I’m surprised that I missed them.

Rogrigo Garcia presents an invigorating film for audiences to embrace their feelings. The story is a deep reflection. I am impressed with how well he conveyed a startling revelation. Garcia chose great location spots, specifically for scenes that take place at night. I could tell that he worked closely with the cast. For a film like this, that is a vital component.

Garcia found metaphorical uses of symbolism that displayed a deeper significance. Audiences can find it relatable. Life is a moment. Accepting fate is difficult, but it is rejuvenating. The film also reflects the value of figuring yourself out - when you’re ready.

Give Passengers a chance. Admittedly, it is slow at times, particularly in the middle half. The message had an impact on me. We will figure it out no matter what stage of our lives we are in. I recommend that you find this film and watch it.