'It's not a crash, it was a forced water landing.'

Rating: 8/10 (14 February 2017)

Topical docudramas don't always work; this one does. This once in a lifetime incident was reported in the book Brace for Impact: The Chesley B. Sullenberger Story (2010) by Chelsey Sully Sullenberger, well adapted for the screen by Todd Komarnicki, and adroitly directed by Clint Eastwood.
The manner of telling the story on film is at times a bit disconcerting because of the manner in which the screenplay jolts between after the event, dreams by Sully, and the even and the final 'trial'. But in the end it works – largely in part due to the reliable Tom Hanks as assisted by Aaron Eckhart.
Captain Chesley B. Sullenberger (Tom Hanks), with his co-pilot Jeff Skiles (Aaron Eckhart), made aviation history on January 15th, 2009 when he successfully landed an Airbus A320 flight 1549 on the Hudson River instead of the intended LaGuardia Airport: a flock of birds flew into the engines, disabling and breaking them. 155 people walked off the plane that day. However, even as Sully was being heralded as a hero by the survivors and the public and the media for his unprecedented feat of aviation skill, an investigation was unfolding that threatened to destroy his reputation and his career. Further tension is provided by Sully's frightened telephone calls with his wife Lorraine (Laura Linney). A fine cast of actors hold the hearings in which Sully defends is actions and proves his heroism.
This is a solid film, ell photographed and acted and directed and brings to the public eye the action of a living hero. It is inspirational – especially today.