Ground Control (1998)

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

Director:

Richard Howard

Writers:

Talaat Captan (story), Robert Moreland (story),

Stars:

Kiefer Sutherland, Bruce McGill, Kristy Swanson

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

Chicago air controller Jack Harris is a wreck with guilt nightmares after a major Transair crash, killing all 174 aboard, gives up the job and designs air control software instead. Five years later, his ex-colleague T.C. Bryant, meanwhile also transferred to Phoenix, desperately asks him to help out short-term, given desperate staff shortage on Newyears eve with a bad storm predicted, after a power cut hits, which is actually the sabotage work of technical whiz John Quinn, who has meanwhile messed up the systems on several airports, so they see their workload multiplied. Colleagues welcome him in very different states of mind but he quickly proves his capabilities, alas then the fatal memories start creeping up again: will his lack of self-confidence cause another drama?

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Plot Keywords:

airport | air traffic controller | storm | fired from the job | flight engineer | 

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Taglines:

No Radar. No Contact. No Control.

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for brief strong language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 August 1998 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Flug 177 - Panik im Tower

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Green Communications, Hard Work Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min 98 min (Showtime)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

During the second approach of Transgulf 47, Harris instructs the captain to switch to runway 18. At Phoenix Sky Harbor airport, there has never been a runway 18. At the time the movie depicts, there were only two parallel east-west runways. Runways 26 right and 26 left, and runways 8 right and 8 left.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Title Card: On an average day above the United States, over 200,000 aircraft carry more than 2,000,000 people guided by less than 3,000 air traffic controllers.
Title Card: "My biggest fear? When you've done all you can do and you still have to listen as the image disappears from your screen." - Air Traffic Controller, Los Angeles En Route Center

User Reviews

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.