Review of 'Sully'

In January 2009 Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger (Tom Hanks) was the pilot of plane that suffered a “bird strike” shortly after take-off from New York's La Guardia airport. Captain Sully managed to land the plane in the Hudson River with no loss of life. “Sully” sees the hero suffering lack of sleep from flashbacks of the incident but he is also grilled by the board investigating the incident suggesting he and his co-pilot Jeff Skiles (Aaron Eckhart) were negligent in their duties and could have landed the plane at a nearby airfield instead. It is Sully's perseverance and integrity that shine through as we slowly piece together exactly what happened on that fateful day.

A wonderful, heart-warming tale of a quiet, gentle and unassuming man who became a hero to a nation. The film looks absolutely incredible and utterly convincing particularly when compared to the real footage of the accident shown over the closing credits. We focus here on the man himself trying to come to terms with what has happened and vindicating his role in the accident despite the terrible pressure by the investigating board. Surprisingly the film is not all that sappy (though there is a bit as this is, after all, from Hollywood) with the concentration right from the opening minutes on on the aftermath of the accident and the effect it had on the people involved.

Hanks is at his best here portraying a bit of an underdog here but a man with incredible integrity. Sully is the main focus here with our following him in his public and private life, questioning himself but ultimately convinced of his correct actions in the face of disaster. He spends a good amount of time running things over in his head and talking to his wife Lorrie (Laura Linney). Eastwood is not afraid to dwell on not only the heroic acts but the impact the accident had on everyone, taking his time, despite the relatively short run time, to fully explore the emotions of the moment.

A wonderful film staring a modern cinema great and directed by another great.

Rating: “I have absolutely no complaints”

Review Date: 2021-10-25

Directed by: Clint Eastwood

Studio: Flashlight Films

Year: 2016

Length: 96 minutes

Genre: Melodrama

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3263904/