7500 Movie Review

7500 (2019)

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Written by: Patrick Vollrath, Senad Halilbasic (co-writer)
Directed by: Patrick Vollrath
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Omid Memar, Aylin Tezel
Rated: R
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Plot
A pilot's aircraft is hijacked by terrorists.

Verdict
The entire movie occurs in the plane's cockpit. It's a taut thriller that feels a little too accurate as it unfolds in real time. While it never changes sets, it packs a lot of emotion. Gordon-Levitt has to carry the movie and does a great job.
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Review
The entire movie, aside from the opening scene, takes place in the plane cockpit as the events unfold from pilot Tobias's (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) point of view. We see the mundane pre-flight checks and hear the banter between Tobias and the Captain.

That's a prelude to a takeover. While the cockpit is secure, the pilots buzz a stewardess in and terrorists seize the opportunity to gain access to the cockpit. The ensuing fight is raw and thus feels authentic and scary. Tobias disables the attacker and manages to close the door, but not before he and the captain sustain injuries.

The movie feels really quick despite the lack of different set pieces. Tobias is able to see part of the plane cabin and two additional terrorists through a video monitor as they demand access to the cockpit. Tobias radios his situation to the control tower and is told under no circumstances is he to let anyone into the cockpit.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays Tobias.

For most of the movie Joseph Gordon-Levitt is the only person on screen. His emotions of confusion, fear, and resolve carry the movie. It's an impressive performance.

The movie happens pretty much in real time as the terrorists try increasingly violent threats to gain access. Tobias is forced to weigh the lives of passengers on the plane versus inhabitants of a city. It's a terrible choice as he has direct orders.

This tackles a scary subject, showing us the difficult choices a pilot faces in such a scenario. United 93 shows something similar from the passengers' perspective. It's a much different movie with an obviously larger budget that feels more Hollywood, but the two movies create a stark image of terror. I like United 93 more, but with a limited scope 7500 manages the difficult task of overcoming budget restraints.