Sully

From Oscar-winning director Clint Eastwood (“American Sniper,” “Million Dollar Baby”) comes Warner Bros. Pictures’ drama “Sully,” starring Oscar winner Tom Hanks (“Bridge of Spies,” “Forrest Gump”) as Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger.

On January 15, 2009, the world witnessed the “Miracle on the Hudson” when Captain “Sully” Sullenberger glided his disabled plane onto the frigid waters of the Hudson River, saving the lives of all 155 aboard. However, even as Sully was being heralded by the public and the media for his unprecedented feat of aviation skill, an investigation was unfolding that threatened to destroy his reputation and his career.

Sully was an absolute fantastic movie and I was not expecting anything less from Clint Eastwood and Tom Hanks. This movie keeps you in suspense, even though you know you already know how it ends.  This I find is something very tricky about making a movie based off a recent event. Along with Captain Sullenberger's tale we get a glimpse of what it was like from the passengers point of view. 

Sully shows the aftermath of Captain Sullenberger, played by Tom Hanks, landing a plane in the Hudson River after dual engine lost because of bird strike.  When I first saw the trailer I was shocked to find out that there was a serious investigation with the belief that he could have made it back to the airport. All the news stories I had seen and read focused on how Captain Sully was an American hero and all the lives he was able to save with his quick thinking. Tom Hanks is really able to capture the stress Captain Sully must have been going through after both a plane crash and the possibility of losing his wings so close to the end of his career. Clint Eastwood 

I greatly enjoyed how we got to see the forced water landing from other people's points of view.  It was of course interesting to see it from Captain Sully, Co-Pilot Jeff Skiles, and the passengers.  Clint Eastwood made the passengers a great part of the movie by including their personal stories before and during the flight. I loved seeing, however, how everyone in New York City came to help from the ferry boat drivers to the police.  We also got to see how it affected the crew working in air traffic control. 

During the movie we got glimpses of Captain Sully's past and how he learned how to fly.  My mother and I both stated we wish we had seen more of his past.  However, my dad who read Captain Sully's book the screenplay is based on, said that his past was relatively boring and that they included the most relevant bits. So maybe it was a good decision to cut that from the movie. Sully is one of those rare movies where I felt the length was perfect. It completely told the story without dragging.

After watching this movie I may not want to travel with Tom Hanks, or maybe he's the only person I want to travel with? He does seem to get out of all his travel problems in his movies.  I do recommend it. It has a capturing story that was told wonderfully. Make sure to stay for a mid credits scene showing a reunion between the real Captain Sully, co-pilot Skiles, and passengers from the flight.  

If you are interested, you can find Captain Sully's book that inspired the movie here : https://www.amazon.com/Highest-Duty-Search-Really-Matters/dp/0061924695