Sully

Sully

Starring Tom Hanks, Aaron Eckhart, Laura Linney, Mike O'Malley

Directed by Clint Eastwood

The Story:
Chelsey "Sully" Sullenberger (Tom Hanks) has grown up in the air.  From a crop-dusting youth to the Air Force to years of piloting commercial airplanes, he's grown a fondness and knowledge of flying that few possess.  One fateful day, a flock of birds fly into the engines, taking them both out.  At first Sully and his co-pilot Jeff Skiles (Aaron Eckhart) try to land at an airport, but Sully knows from intuition that the plane wouldn't make it, and risks a very dangerous landing on the Hudson River instead.  What follows is the harrowing true-life story of the Miracle on the Hudson, where all 155 passengers survived a water landing - something that was never done before.

The Synopsis:
Clint Eastwood has shown a true talent for directing true-life stories and giving them a sense of real drama and tension.  From Chris Kyle in "American Sniper" to the Jersey Boys, he manages to entertain as well as inform the world on some of the most prolific moments in history.

"Sully" is no different.  This is a story that everyone already knows: the Miracle on the Hudson, landing a plane on water where all passengers and crew members survived.  It's a feat in itself, but could it be drawn out into a full-fledged movie?  With less capable hands, it would've been a dull tale, but in the hands of Dirty Harry himself, you get an edge-of-your-seat thrilling adventure with heart, humor and passion. 

Tom Hanks delivers an Oscar-caliber performance as Sully, a man who never wanted to be a hero, but became one due to his heroic actions.  He's not one for the public spotlight, as he often expresses his nervousness in appearing on camera, and he's still haunted by the events of that fateful day and what could've happened.  This inner turmoil boils to the surface in vivid daydream disasters that occur in his brain, and gives us a deeper insight into the man.  Hanks once again gives his all, and it clearly shows in his passion for the film.  He once again encompasses the "every man" motif he's so good at - be it in "Philadelphia," "Forrest Gump" or here, we fully believe Tom Hanks is just like us - even though he's so incredibly talented.

Still, with his film record ("Cast Away," "Captain Phillips," "Apollo 13"), I wouldn't want to have him taking me anywhere.

As someone who doesn't enjoy flying at all, the crash scene was especially thrilling, and extremely well-done.  In a time where CGI permeates the cinematic culture, it's refreshing to see it done right, as well as mixing in good old fashioned man-made effects as well.  It all culminates in a goosebump-inducing feeling that will have you cheering in your seat.

Still, there's more to the tale than the crash itself, or with Sully's reluctance to be called a hero.  The National Transportation Safety Board is reflected in the film to be the real bad guys, the antagonists, who question Sully's abilities and whether or not he could've made it to the airport instead of risking a possibly deadly water landing.  Throughout the film you're made to really detest them and how they treat our hero, which is a typical Eastwood staple, since he spent a good chunk of his film career in the wild west, we need an enemy to root against, and here it's the NTSB, which itself was met with criticism for how poorly they were portrayed.

The main issue with most biographical films is that they're boring and focused entirely on the facts.  With "Sully," the facts are still front and center, but it's delivered with a gravitas you'd find in any Oscar-worthy dramatic masterpiece - this one just happens to be real life.

The Summary:
With the dream collaboration of Tom Hanks and Clint Eastwood, "Sully" rises above the traditional biographical film and reaches new heights in thrilling dramatic performances and a compelling true-life tale.

The Score: A