Sully

The team of actor Tom Hanks and director Clint Eastwood seems a sure bet for the coming awards season, especially with the based on tale of pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger infamous landing of an USA Airways on the Hudson River in January 2009. Todd Komarnicki screenplay was adapted from Sullenberger’s memoir Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters with Jeffrey Zaslow. Sully’s remarkable landing of his cripple passenger jet in which everyone on board survived made him a national hero. As one character says “it’s been awhile since NYC had good news, especially with an airplane in it”.

Sully (Tom Hanks) in the aftermath of the landing, is plagued with nightmares of the possible different deadly scenarios that could have happened. He is put up in a local Marriott Hotel while the NTSB initiates an investigation. For some reason the panel of bureaucrats ( Jamey Sheridan, Mike O’Malley and Anna Gunn) seem intent on sticking holes into the “miracle on the Hudson”. According to their initial information and computer simulations, there is evidence that he could have made it back to the airport. They are the smirking bad guys of the story who insist that the left engine was not damaged and could have provided enough thrust to avoid the water “crash”. Or as Sully dutifully points out was a “landing”.

The story of what happened during the trip is told in a series of flashbacks from the perspective of various passengers, flight attendants, rescue crews, and random witnesses. Aaron Eckhart plays Jeff Skiles his co-pilot who with Sully read off the various pre-flight checklist. Even after the encounter with the birds shortly after take off, they remain calm and steady as they try and access the damage. They radio for assistance, but Sully has to make a quick decision of landing in the Hudson when all indicators say that getting to the airport would not work.

The media avalanche surrounds his home with wife Lorrie (Laura Linney whose role is limited to faceless conversations with Sully on the phone). She learns of the crash after Sully calls her when they are back on land and he tells her to turn on the TV. Everyone heralds Sully as the full fledged hero. Tom Hanks handles the role with a steady and humble forcefulness believing he was only doing what his 42 years of experience has taught him. Everywhere they go, people thank him, hug him and honor him as the hero. They even go on Letterman.

The actual crash is pretty exciting and the tense moments of getting the passengers out of the sinking aircraft are handled by the capable crew. The rescue by the ferry boats and NYPD scuba divers grabbing some passengers who had dove into the freezing waters in panic and Sully’s need to make sure that all 155 passengers and crew were all counted brings the viewer close to the remarkable event.

It’s been reported that real life investigators take umbrage at their portrayal of wanting to find fault with Sully’s landing on the water. But this is a kind of movie that needs a villain, and who else is better than suits for the government. Of course Sully is vindicated, and the movie ends with pictures of the real life participants of the event that will remain a great example of skill with a touch of miracle.
(Review by reesa)