Sully
Starring Tom Hanks, Aaron Eckhart
Directed by Clint Eastwood
It was a story that captivated the world. On Jan. 15, 2009, a US Airways flight left New York’s LaGuardia Airport, piloted by veteran captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger. Mere minutes after takeoff, the plane hit a flock of geese and lost both engines. What happened next was dubbed a “miracle” in the annals of history; Sullenberger successfully landed the Airbus A320 on the Hudson River, saving all 155 people aboard.
The six-minute saga has received the inevitable Hollywood treatment with Clint Eastwood directing and Tom Hanks vying for another Oscar nomination in Sully.
Shot entirely on IMAX cameras, the occasionally harrowing drama is also a tale brimming with hope and optimism and a love letter of sorts to New York City. Grounded by a commanding central performance from Hanks, the film also explores the aftermath of the landing through the post-traumatic stress endured by Sullenberger and the instant celebrity status he attained. A large part of the plot focuses on the ensuing investigation by transportation safety officials who sought to determine whether the pilot could have actually turned back to the airport.
The movie stumbles in these sections as Eastwood’s heavy-handed direction and the conventional script begin to bog things down. Still, these issues are forgivable thanks to Hanks’ subtle magnetism – paired with Aaron Eckhart, who is a scene-stealing secret weapon as co-pilot Jeff Skiles – and Eastwood’s masterful approach to the flight and rescue sequences.
Sully may be old-fashioned and even a bit corny at times but it’s a genuine crowd-pleaser.
