The movie already has an impressive 81 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, but viewers may wonder about the veracity of the film. Head for the river and hope the plane can float! On a budget somewhere between $80 and $90 million (there’s some disagreement on the figure), Sullenberger took on the career of his Sully portrayer from behind-the-scenes, chronicling Hanks’ struggles on the set of such films as Forrest Gump-“Momma always said life was like a chocolate box”, or so goes his flubbed line-and Cast Away. Sullenberger recalls the events of January 15, 2009, when U.S. Airways Flight 1549 was in serious trouble. Suddenly a huge flock of Canadian geese are sucked into both engines. With Sullenberger throughout is his copilot Jeff Skiles (a top-notch Aaron Eckhart), his partner in flight and on the ground.
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Much like his turn in Captain Phillips it’s a refreshing change for audiences generally pummeled on their heads with chest beating cinematic heroes. The media hails him as a hero, but some members of the National Transportation Safety Board are convinced it was Sully’s error in judgment and attempt to bring him down.
It’s a skillful and admirable endeavor, but also a very shallow one, with little room for any of the human factor it espouses beyond Hanks and Eckhart. Computers can’t really do that. It’s an exaggeration. The film’s climactic grilling of Sullenberger at a public hearing was referred to in news reports as “gentle, respectful and at times downright congenial”. “And there’s no way we’re making it to Newark”. Sully is no exception.
Great actor/director Clint Eastwood is no slouch at shaping wonderful “people” stories as well. “You can see him looking to see everyone gets off ok”, he recalled.
It’s hard to believe that more than seven years have passed since what came to be known as the “Miracle on the Hudson”.
“Mr. Eastwood was sitting right back there”, said Cline pointing to a chair behind the pilot’s seat. He also has some understated scenes on the phone with his wife (Laura Linney) back in California who is unaware of the incident until she gets his call. It was not a particularly new idea at the time he said it, but it has, if anything, become more firmly ensconced in the American psyche since then. Otherwise, it’s just flawless. Two and a half stars out of four.
As the film explores, Sully’s choices that day were intensely scrutinized by investigators, insurance officials and bureaucrats.
The spoof was Sully’s response to Hanks starring as Sully in the movie “Sully“.
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Sully is in theaters everywhere. Put in a comment below! Do you think you would be strong in a crisis?
