A great film without an appealing main character

This is a wrenching, powerful film and the fact that it is able to overcome an unsympathetic character played by Bridges is a measure of how good it is.

The flashback scenes to the plane crash itself are great. What made these scenes so complete was the soundtrack and the muted sound effects of what was taking place. Best memory sequence of any film I've seen.

What threatened this film's greatness, was Bridges' character, who takes on a smugness and imperiousness toward the world around him after he has survived, that at times you almost wish the crash had claimed his life as well. He believes that having survived a crash gives him the right to act above others. He sees himself as a Christ-like figure and acts like life on Earth is no longer worthy of him. In the final frame of all this changes, to the film's credit.

At the same time, one can only wonder what the film would have been like if he had continued to put himself at risk and paid the ultimate price.