On January 15, 2009, Captain Chelsey “Sully” Sullenberger was forced to perform an emergency landing on the Hudson River after his plane was struck by birds. Even more spectacularly, every single person on the plane survived the crash with only minor injuries. Sully, directed by Clint Eastwood, attempts to recount the stunning “Miracle on the Hudson” and, for the most part, succeeds. The movie provides a well thought-out, moving interpretation of the miraculous story and right at the center is Tom Hanks, who nails his role as Captain Sully. He plays the role with great nuance and emotion, further cementing his place as a true American treasure. The copilot, played by Aaron Eckhart, almost steals the show from Hanks at times, and his chemistry with Sully is fun to watch. The rest of the cast is believable, but they pale in comparison to the lead.
The story for the most part is lacking. The crash plays a key role in the movie (obviously) and the flashbacks to the crash at important moments in the story are welcome and mix things up a bit. When not learning about what really went down that fateful day, the movie becomes a slog through Sully’s life as an American hero. It is understood that the director is trying to show how grueling Sully’s new life in the spotlight. The plot becomes slow and dull for the viewer, and it takes away from the overall impact.
The pacing of the movie is quick enough to never get truly bored, but the movie does not capture attentions until the final act. The final third of the film is able to play up the excitement of the crash again while simultaneously moving forward the main storyline. This stellar finale makes up for the movie’s stumbles into monotony. Overall, the movie’s flashes of intrigue and stellar cast keep it upbeat and interesting. Sully would make a fantastic Redbox rental or Netflix view, but is not recommended to be seen in theatres.