Sully

Sully represents the best of both Eastwood and Hanks. 

Each have had hits and misses throughout their careers with their hits being stellar pieces of entertainment and their misses usually not being outright bad, but just forgettable. Sully comes after an roller-coaster time for Eastwood where he's coming off one of his best films (American Sniper) that was preceded by one of his worst (Jersey Boys). Hanks is similar, recently being seen in the forgettable A Hologram for the King that came after the phenomenal Bridge of Spies. 

This film speaks to the true test of a professional and everything that is encompassed with holding that title. Arguably, Hanks and Eastwood are both professionals and Sully thus becomes a bit of a love letter to that adjective and their respect for those who are similar, no matter the job they hold. 

Make no mistake that Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger is 100% a professional. For those unaware -- or living under a rock -- he was the American Airlines pilot who, after dual engine failure immediately after takeoff, landed his commercial passenger jet on the Hudson river. I'll confess that, at the time of this event, I don't think I quite understood the gravity of it all. I remember thinking, "Oh that's cool. Lucky for them they could make it to the river." I wasn't fully aware of how difficult a water landing actually is, nor of the alternate scenario that would have basically been them crashing into NYC skyscrapers, something this nation certainly doesn't need more of.

It's here where Eastwood does a fantastic job illustrating just how badly this situation could have gone. Along with a few terrifying dreaming sequences, he plays out the actual water landing in several separate stages, each showing a various aspect of who experienced it. They're all somewhat similar, but expertly crafted for maximum tension while also being fiercely realistic. Under many other directors' hands these segments could have been dull and uninspired, but here Eastwood is even able to bring excitement to a FTC Hearing of the landing. The organization of the film and adaptation of the event was also inspired, choosing rather than telling it straightforward, moment-to-moment, to tell it through a series of well-inserted flashbacks. It makes the film's 90ish-minute runtime fly by at a freakish pace (it sincerely felt like a 43-minute TV episode) while also giving a fair and complete view of the event and the man who saved lives. The only place where Sully falls short in this regard is its attempt to focus on a couple of the passengers that were on that flight. There's never a clear reason why these groups of passengers were chosen and anytime the film cuts to their story it comes off as little more than a distraction.

"I like your mustache."
"Well I hate yours"

"He said he hated my mustache.
So I punched him. Right in the teeth."

Of course, all of the stellar direction, pacing, and organization would be for naught if we couldn't actually connect with the character so who better to portray Sully than America's favorite, Tom Hanks? At this point in his legendary career, this was likely not a hard role for Hanks, but that doesn't diminish how fine his performance is. Hanks represents what is likely the true Sully, an absolute level-headed professional dedicated to delivering souls safely to their destinations. As he begins to doubt himself after-the-fact, it shows a man going through likely the hardest moments of his life and haunted by what could have been. This called for an actor that has range but also consistency in portrayal and to me, that sounds like a perfect definition of Tom Hanks. Similarly Aaron Eckhart continues to prove why he should continue to get more serious roles within Hollywood as the equally smooth/calm co-pilot Jeff Skiles and Laura Linney provides Sully his rock and immediate vote of confidence as his wife. 

Everything else adds up too. The special effects are impressive for this not being a Marvel or Star Wars film and the cinematography is effective. Couple that with expert editing and you have a gorgeous, tense experience without hardly any shaky cam, instead relying on harrowing images and realism to make you squirm in your seat. Sully features a mostly forgettable original score, which is unfortunate because there is a "theme" song played no more than three times throughout that induces Titanic-level chills, I just wish it would have been used a little more. 

Could have been much, much worse that day. Damn birds!

Sully is the showcase of three professionals: Hanks, Eastwood, and the man himself, Sully. It's a terrific character study of a humble hero -- America's favorite -- who doesn't want the fame, but also defends what he did wholeheartedly. In a year where we got an [fantastic] aviation film about drones, Eye in the Sky, Sully proves that the human element is still the best thing about being able to fly in the sky.

CONS:

• Ends on a really cheesy moment/dialogue line
• Diverts its attention to focus on two random groups of passengers
• It contained a theme for a potentially world-class original score. A shame it didn't use it more often

PROS:

• Eastwood's direction is phenomenal and tight. The film's short run time blazes by and it seems like there's not a moment wasted throughout
• This may be a story where we already know the outcome, but the sense of tension is real. Thanks to a unique, but well structured organization of the event it feels like the first time we're seeing it and it's a testament to Eastwood's talent to craft a powerful scene or two (or several)
• Tom Hanks is pitch-perfect as Sully both in his calm-captain state but also his study of self doubt and worry. Not sure anyone could have done better in the role 
• Other cast members turn in well-tuned performances too, especially Eckhart and Linney
• Touching mid-credits scene
• Pretty awesome in IMAX
• Something to be said for a disaster film where not one person dies. It's powerful stuff
• Cinematography, special effects, sound editing, editing in general -- it's all well done here
• An effective, thrilling, powerful, and quick character study on a hero that represents the epitome of professionalism and doing your job well

Rath's Review Score: 9/10