Movie Brief: Sully

The unsinkable Tom Hanks soars as heroic pilot

Everything Tom Hanks touches turns to gold. An actor who can spend most of his scenes—in a particular movie—stranded on a deserted island alone talking to a volleyball, and still somehow manage to keep viewers engaged, is a master at his craft. That’s why it was no surprise that Hanks’ starring role in “Sully” about pilot Chelsey Sullenberger, who successfully ‘landed’ an airplane on the Hudson River with no casualties, would be a must-watch. The biographical drama is based on the 2009 memoir “Highest Duty” from Sullenberger and Jeffrey Zaslow and was directed and co-produced by Clint Eastwood.

Strong acting, compelling story, and incredibly engaging! Everything Tom Hanks touches turns to gold.

Plot: The film follows the days surrounding the crash landing of US Airways Flight 1549 and the pilot, Chelsey “Sully” Sullenberger, who miraculously landed the plane and saving all passengers aboard. The captain of the plane and his first office are applauded by the public, but investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board on whether the proper procedures were followed during the incident, leaving the future of Sullenberger’s career hanging in the balance.

Engagement: The incident known as ‘Miracle on the Hudson’ comes alive on the big screen. Hanks is superb and believable as a skillful airline pilot turned national hero. Supported by strong acting, the film tells a compelling story that highlights the impact of heroism of the pilot, as well as the first respondents, who aided in the rescue of 155 people from the Hudson River. What makes this film so engaging is less about the water landing and more about the people involved. It’s the emotional journey that begins from the first sign of trouble in the air to the intense NTSB hearing that follows. There’s not a moment in this film when you are not ‘feeling’ something, rather its fear, joy, or disbelief.

Style: Costuming in this movie supported the role of the character. The story was the focus of the film and the styling of the costumes and sets successfully set the stage.

Release date: September 9th