MOVIE REVIEW SULLY

Tom Hanks stars in this portrait of airline pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, which depicts his successful emergency landing of an Airbus A320 on the Hudson River in January 2009. In the aftermath of this unprecedented and heroic feat, the traumatized pilot must endure second-guessing by investigators, the weight of sudden fame, and his own doubts about his actions that fateful day. Anna Gunn, Laura Linney, and Aaron Eckhart co-star. Directed by Clint Eastwood. ~ Violet LeVoit, Rovi

Director: Clint Eastwood

Cast: Tom Hanks, Laura Linney, Aaron Eckhart, Autumn Reeser, Sam Huntington.

Release Date: Sep 09, 2016

Rated PG-13 for some peril and brief strong language.

Runtime: 1 hr. 36 min.

Genres: Drama 

Review:

Sully is an impressive piece of filmmaking that showcases the type of heroism that’s rarely shown.  Clint Eastwood directs his film with a steady hand showing the dichotomy of emotions that Captain Sullenberger was going through after his miraculous landing.  Tom Hanks is perfectly cast as Sullenberger, displaying the levels of introspection and self doubt that his character was going through.  It’s a thoughtful piece of filmmaking which screams award season contention.  It’s an impressive character study that’s well acted and directed through even though there is a sense that film has been padded a bit.  It’s an odd sensation to watch an hour and a half film that feels much longer than it is.

B+

Cindy Prascik's Review of Sully

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dearest Blog: Today it was off to Marquee Cinemas to kick off Awards Season with Sully. Spoiler level here will be mostly mild, nothing you haven't seen in a trailer or on the news. Sully is based on the true story of pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, who made an emergency water landing on the Hudson River when his plane lost both engines shortly after departing Laguardia Airport. 

 

Sully is an entertaining movie, but probably a bonafide awards contender for Tom Hanks' performance only. The true story is compelling enough, but this telling is painted with such broad strokes as to be almost comical at times. 

 

The picture is hampered by awkward dialogue and cartoonish good and bad guys. Even when Sully's decisions come into question, the movie wants to make sure you remember whose side you're *supposed* to be on. A good movie lets you make up your own mind, and a truly good movie gets you where it wants to without beating you over the head; that seems well beyond Sully. 

 

On the plus side, Hanks carries the film with his usual flair, a performance that should be good enough to land him on most of the Best Actor shortlists, especially considering the Academy really owes him one for the Captain Phillips snub. 

 

Aaron Eckhart leads a solid supporting cast full of faces you'll recognize even if you may not know the names. Anything--and I do mean anything--having to do with the flight itself is beautifully filmed, from takeoff to unexpectedly-damp touchdown. There's one glorious moment when that nose-diving aircraft seems to be coming right off the screen...made me a little wistful for 3D! Finally, the movie is smart enough to recognize the limitations of the story it has to tell, and clocks in with a very reasonable runtime. 

 

Sully runs 95 minutes and is rated PG13 for "some peril and brief strong language." Though it occasionally strays into Airplane! territory, Sully is an inspiring outing built on another stellar leading turn by Tom Hanks. 

 

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Sully gets seven and a half. 

 

Fangirl points (there are a lot of 'em this time): The USS Intrepid! Sam Huntington! Holt McCallany! Valerie Mahaffey! My beautiful New York City!! 

 

Until next time...