SULLY : MOVIE REVIEW

Critic’s consensus: As comfortingly workmanlike as its protagonist, Sully makes solid use of typically superlative work from its star and director to deliver a quietly stirring tribute to an everyday hero.

Directed by Clint Eastwood, the movie has cast Tom Hanks, Aaron Eckhart and Laura Linney as the main cast with the script written by Todd Komarnicki (screenplay), Chesley Sullenberger (based on the book "Highest Duty" by) (as Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger).

Sully is the story of Chesley Sullenberger, an American pilot who became a hero after landing his damaged plane on the Hudson River in order to save the flight's passengers and crew.

On Thursday, January 15th, 2009, the world witnessed the "Miracle on the Hudson" when Captain Chesley Sullenberger, nicknamed "Sully" & is portrayed by Tom Hanks landed his disabled plane onto the frigid waters of the Hudson River, saving the lives of all 155 aboard. However, even as Sully was being praised by the public and the media for his extraordinary skill, an investigation was unfolding that threatened to destroy his reputation and his career. 

The film explores the meaning of heroism in the modern world – or at least, it tries to. And what it finds is that not much has changed in the many centuries since tales of bravery and selflessness have been told. Some heroes work behind desks. Others land airliners on rivers.

Like most things, melodrama works fine if. But it’s also the one thing that keeps Sully from soaring. Eastwood, over the last 15 years or so, has developed an unmistakable style that can only be described as… workmanlike – no fancy, no nonsense. But even he can’t elevate ordinary writing, which is what happens here.

Tom Hanks is, and always has been, the real American hero in the movies. He can nail roles like this in his sleep. No one could have played it better than Tom hanks as Sully like this – confident yet never cocky, humble but never cloying. There are often scenes in which the film is threatened with dual engine failure, but Hanks is the captain who lands it safely.

But the biggest star of the film – is the IMAX. Sully is first film to be shot almost entirely with IMAX cameras, and they’re so overwhelmed of this that they’re using it as a tagline on the poster (no kidding, go check).

 The final few minutes of Sully are exhilarating. It’s what the film has been surging towards. Watching it unfold on that huge screen was incredible. The sounds, the images, the atmosphere envelopes you.

And then, another curious thing happened. There was applause – not hooting or whistling – but real applause - genuine, respectful, appreciative and very uncommon.