Amelia (12A)

WELL I never. Hilary Swank's playing a woman in a man's world, fulfilling dreams, fighting prejudice, yadda yadda yadda. Is it Oscar season already?

Last time Swankatron went a-courting awards, she did so with the amazing Million Dollar Baby. But this biopic of legendary pilot Amelia Earhart is a hundred times blander.

In fact it's less of a soaring flight across the Serengeti than a knees-around-the-ears job from Stansted to Bilbao on EasyJet.

Swank plays Amelia, the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic, who disappeared on a two-man round-the-world flight.

And looks-wise she's convincing. With her enormo-grin and bad hair, she's a three-way cross between Jedward, a white-goods showroom and Pickle the Elf off Knightmare.

Richard Gere plays George Putnam, a Max Clifford-style figure who manages Amelia's career. And Ewan McGregor pops up as suave pilot Gene Vidal.

Admittedly, director Mira Nair handles the visuals well. The planes are things of shiny beauty and Swank looks trim in a trouser suit.

But the ever-so-earnest screenplay and the clunky flashbacks scupper it. However, it passes the time if you ever get the chance to see it for free.

In fact, it's the perfect in- flight movie. Apart from the "plane crash ending" thing.

OUT FRIDAY

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