Sully soar high with me. Yet, there were some engine problems.

Rating: 8/10 (15 December 2016)

Hailed as a national hero in the United States, Chesley Sullenberger (Tom Hanks) successfully executed an emergency water landing of US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River off Manhattan, New York City, on January 15, 2009, after the aircraft was disabled by striking a flock of geese during its climb out from LaGuardia Airport. This movie directed by Clint Eastwood, tells about the real-life account of the aftermath of the 'Miracle on the Hudson', in which Sullenberger was challenge by National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) if the water landing was really necessary, as it would endangered the passengers lives. Without spoiling the movie, too much, when fact-checking this movie, I found the film based on Sullenberger's autobiography "Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters" to be very accurate. However, there was one big problem. In order to give his film some sort of friction, beyond the short, but intense water landing, Eastwood reportedly made antagonists out of the US federal agency responsible for investigating major transit accidents. That means a lot of scenes, them, being exaggerating too hostile to Captain Sullenberger and his co-pilot, Jeff Skiles (Aaron Eckhart). In my opinion, there were way too many of that. The deliberately stink eye and 'out to get him' dialogue, really got heavy handedly, and felt a bit annoying to watch. The reasons why, is because, in truth, the NTSB was far from blaming or criticizing the captain for his actions. Reports as early as 2009, has stated that they always supported the narrative of Sullenberger's heroism. I know, Eastwood just wanted to add some melodrama to the story, but they wasn't no need to make the NTSB to look like comical villains. Another thing, I found annoying, was the direction of the film. It was too sentimental and sappy at times. The music and patriotic visuals, only added to the cheesiest. Also, the decision to show bits and pieces of the crash several times throughout the film was not a good choice. It made the film feel repetitive. It really does takes away from what could have been a really hard hitting piece of filmmaking with the entire recreation of Flight 1549 in real time. Something, very similar to what is portray in director Paul Greengrass' 2006 biographical drama-thriller film, 'United 93'. There's no question that Eastwood's movie is still harrowing and gripping, but it really starts to lose its luster after knowing that there is barely any different, between each flashback to that day; no matter, whom vantage point, the movie is being told. Because of this, the pacing is somewhat slow. It really took forever to get to what really, did happened. For a 96 minutes, it's the shortest film, Eastwood had ever directed; yet, it felt long. Then, there is the fact that some parts of the movie was somewhat boring. Much of this, come from the fact that the main character is just not that interest in the film, besides the fact that he save people that day. Don't get me wrong, I have to say, for the most part, Hanks gives the quiet, monotone Sullenberger, an alright performance that worth seeing, but nothing about Sully in the film is that memorable. In the end, he was somewhat forgettable. It's sad, because there were some parts of Sully's life that could had been entertaining to watch, more. Yet, Eastwood really made, his past seem really boring and short. I really don't get, how that was possible, seeing that Sully once flew McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II for a living and help investigation other aviation disaster, such as Pacific Southwest Airlines Flight 1771 and USAir Flight 1493. It would be really nice to see, more of the past, rather than repetitive fake looking CGI shots of the same plane crash. Nevertheless, I do like how this movie show the other heroes that day, like Ferry Captain Vincent Lombardi, who was the captain of the first ferry to reach the plane, who played himself in the movie & the New York Scuba Divers. Yet, I felt that adding the story of some of the passengers, was a bit distracting; seeing how their stories, don't really add much to the rest of the film. You would think, their viewpoints of the crash, would play more into the plot. Yet, it didn't. The same goes with having Laura Linney as Lorraine Sullenberger, Sully's wife. The script barely had anything for her to do. Surprising, Hanks and her don't even share, any scenes together. It's really pathetic. How are we supposed to believe that, they have a connection with each other, if we don't see them, embrace!? Added to that insult is the fact that some supporting characters such as Aaron Eckhart & Kate Couric kinda plays their roles, a little bit too over the top to the point, that I found their performance to be a bit distracting. Despite that, I have to say, Eckhart does bring this movie, some really needed charm. However, I don't think, it was right decision to end the movie so abruptly after a tacky joke from his character. It felt so anticlimax. Nor did I like how film's release date coincide with the 15th anniversary of the 9/11/01 attacks. Yes, the film show New York in one of its best moment, but it a very blatant attempt to cash in on people's emotions. Still, if Sullenberger says he supported your movie about him. Then, you're doing something right. I have to agree with that. Overall: As much as I torn, through this movie and show it's faults; it still was somewhat enjoyable good-nature movie. Since, the director was involved in an emergency water landing in the past. You see that, Clint Eastwood put a lot of heart into making this film and it shows. In the end, Sully is worth flying over and go see, but it does need to leave a few things on the tarmac to be a masterpiece.