Director: Clint Eastwood
Cast : Tom Hanks, Aaron Eckhart, Laura Linney & Anna Gunn
By Ervell E. Menezes
This reviewer has always felt that veteran Clint Eastwood is a better director than actor and “Dirty Harry” (1971) was may be the first I’ve seen as an actor. But as director he has “Play Misty For Me”(1971), “Unforgiven”(1992) “Mystic River”(2003) “Million Dollar Baby” (2004) and most recently “American Sniper”(2014)and they are all four starrers or more.
“Sully” is the pet name of the pilot. On January 15, 2009 veteran US Airways pilots Capt Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger (Tom Hanks) and First Officer Jeffrey “Jeff Skiles (Aaron Eckhart) board US Airways Flight 1549 departing from LaGuardia Airport in New York. Barely three minutes into the flight, disaster strikes. The Airbus A 320 hits a flock of Canadian geese which cripples both engines of the aircraft.
Without engine power and no airport within range Sully is forced to land his ill-fated airliner in the frigid waters of the Hudson River against immeasurable odds. As the plane was going down Sully chooses a spot near midtown where choppers, police, firemen and ferry boat rescue units could move in quickly. He then successfully ditches the aircraft, sparing the lives of 155 passengers and crew. For all his efforts he is dubbed a hero.
But that’s not all. What follows is as important because the press is agog with the incident. It also raises questions of his motives. But director Eastwood doesn’t make the aftermath separate. With clever intercutting, he deals with them simultaneously. Both are given equal weightage. Aided by Tod Komarnicki’s clever screenplay and Blu Murray’s deft editing the action is confined to just 96 minutes, almost within the Bunuellian limit which is indeed admirable in today’s trend of dragging the story needlessly.
Tom Hanks gets well under the skin of the role and yet refrains from making a meal of the part and is ably supported by Aaron Eckhart. Laura Linney as Sully’s wife, does well while throwing light on the domestic side of the story.
“Sully” is an absolute must for Eastwood-watchers and the man once known as Dirty Harry could well assume the title of Old Man River.... never stops rolling.
