It’s a reasonably diverting action film set during wartime, largely because of the appeal brought by Mel Gibson and Robert Downey Jr. The movie also boasts well-executed action sequences and competent direction, plus Roger Deakins’s photography is noteworthy. Accounts suggest that production wasn't a pleasant experience for many involved, including Deakins and Downey. Despite this, I did find it to be an enjoyable wa…

My fondness for this film is partly due to my college years coinciding with the Cold War—a time filled with acronyms like PBSUCCESS, MKULTRA, JMWAVE, PAPERCLIP, COLDFEET, MKOFTEN, The Phoenix Program, ARTICHOKE, and Midnight Climax being part of everyday conversation. Therefore, a comedic take on Air America felt particularly valuable. I’m not overly concerned with historical accuracy, so I can simply enjoy it as …

Following a suspension of his pilot’s license due to a reckless incident, Billy (Robert Downey Jr.) takes a job with "Air America" in war-ravaged Laos. This CIA-funded organization employs a varied group of pilots tasked with delivering supplies to local communities. It's during this time that he encounters Gene (Mel Gibson) and discovers the unsettling truth: his employers are involved in narcotics trafficking on a …