Movie Review: “Sully” is a soaring tale of heroism

Movie Review: “Sully” (PG-13)

Often when a tragic accident occurs, we question how that accident could have been avoided. Iconic Clint Eastwood attempts to answer such a question in his latest directorial effort, “Sully,” a rousing, real-life tale of heroism starring national treasure Tom Hanks. “Sully” has come under attack in certain circles for its dramatization of certain aspects of this story, and while I am certainly in no position to speak to the complete historical accuracy of every aspect of this movie, I can tell you that “Sully” is both inspirational and well-acted.

In this cinematic take on what would come to be known as the “Miracle on the Hudson,” Hanks is Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, a pilot who through the aid of his right-hand man Jeff Skiles (Aaron Eckhart), a seasoned stewardess team, and a cabin full of eerily calm passengers would land a commercial airliner in the Hudson River in order to avert certain disaster. Miraculously, everyone on board the flight, would survive the incident, but the story behind this miracle wouldn’t end there. In the days that would follow, Sully and Skiles would be put through the ringer by way of an investigation that would suggest that this airliner would have, in fact, made it back to LaGuardia had Sully not made the decision he ultimately made.

At a lean 96 minutes, “Sully” is intimate and precise. While its primary theme of heroism is worn like a cinematic badge of honor, the film as a whole is actually quite restrained. The dramatic (and at times fittingly intense) plane landing, which is covered multiple times throughout the picture, is executed with understated precision by the incomparable Eastwood.

Once Sully and Skiles are put under the microscope by way of a handful of intense safety hearings, the film switches gears and turns into a story of a man who begins to question his own impulsive decision. Whether or not Sully and Skiles were actually railroaded to the degree this film suggests they were is a serious topic of conversation in many circles. Do Eastwood and crew take certain dramatic license in terms of the way this story unfolds? Probably. Did I walk away perceiving the safety board members as depicted in this picture as callous bureaucrats without souls? Not really. If Sully was simply doing his job when he made that crucial decision that would ultimately save 155 lives, it stands to reason that the safety board was simply doing their job when challenging the validity of Sully’s astronomically tough choice. Refreshingly, there is no real “villain” on display in “Sully.” There is conflict and there is a bit of finger pointing, but rest assured that justice is served in the end.

There’s certainly conventionality at play in this movie, like nightmarish visions of what might have happened had Sully made a different choice and such. Having said that, there’s nothing at all conventional about the way Hanks plays this role. Again, this man is a national treasure. While he remains one of our most respected and beloved A-list actors, he’s still taken for granted to a certain degree. He’s simply so effective every time out that some folks tend to forget just how effective he can be.

As Sully, Hanks is cool, calm, and collected, bringing a stoic sense of purpose to the role. But beneath that quiet, reserved demeanor, there is stress and vulnerability to be seen in those seemingly steely, confident eyes. It should come as absolutely no surprise that Hanks is great here.

Eckhart is terrific, too! His Skiles would back up Sully until his dying days. Why? Because he’s been through the shit with this man. He’s seen first hand the kind of individual Sully truly is. There’s deep respect, and that respect goes both ways. Again, Eckhart is solid, and he even has an opportunity to inject a bit of much-needed humor into the proceedings.

I wish the same could be said for the great Laura Linney. It’s not that she’s bad here. It’s just that as Sully’s encouraging wife, Lorraine, this terrific actress isn’t given all that much to do. What few scenes she does appear in are shot as surprisingly dull phone conversations. Linney does her best with what she’s given to work with, but quite frankly, she’s capable and deserving of so much more.

Through the power of Eastwood and Hanks, this unforgettable true event is easily elevated  above what some might dismiss as a TV movie of the week. Further still, perhaps the most heartfelt and telling aspect of “Sully” as a film, is the very idea that Captain Sully didn’t perform this miracle on his own, nor would he take credit for such. This was a team effort, and with the tragedy that was 9/11 still very much alive in our collective brains, it’s nice to see a New York-set story of heroism and unity punctuated by a happy ending.

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