SULLY (2016)

Genre: Drama

Running Length: 1:36

Cast:  Tom Hanks, Aaron Eckhart, Laura Linney

Director: Clint Eastwood 

Screenplay: Todd Komarnicki, based on the book by Chesley Sullenberger and Jeffrey Zaslow 

Can a 3.5 mins incident made into a full length 90 mins movie? The answer is "Yes!". Despite padding it up with backstories, side stories and the aftermath, SULLY doesn't feel bloated and the end result is an uplifting movie. Kudos to director Eastwood for his pacing and his team of editors. 

The movie is about the true story of the US Airways plane that landed safely on the Hudson river, New York in the freezing cold of Jan 2009. Known as the "Miracle on the Hudson", all 155 passengers and crew on board were safe. This film focuses on captain Chelsey ‘Sully’ Sullenberger, the emergency landing itself and an aviation board inquiry thereafter. 

Clint Eastwood movies are always simple to follow and completely engaging but somehow feels "shallow" much later after you have walked out from the cinema hall. It's like eating a box of popcorn; it's so delicious and filling but somehow you just don't feel "full" thereafter.  

In fact, I felt the narrative is over simplified and some of the scenes were heavily handed. Everyone involved in the rescue mission was surprisingly calm and knew exactly what to do. The stories from side characters especially the passengers came across as plasticky and OTT in sentimentalism. 

 

The film is at its strongest when it focuses on Hanks' character doubting his decision and dealing with "What if I have made a mistake?" when he was presented with data, algorithms and flight simulations during the inquiry. Another big highlight is the emergency landing scene itself; it's actually a miracle to be feeling anxious and on the edge of my seat when I jolly well knew all will be ok. 

Hanks have somewhat mastered such a character - the ordinary family man demonstrating courage under fire and is self-sacrificing when subjected to extraordinary danger. I call it the good old-fashioned American heroism. He practically played the same character in Captain Phillips. 

All in all, although Sully is a stretch in some scenes, it is still a feel good movie that showcases the triumph of the human spirit that will instantly make your day better. 

Rating: 8.5/10