Shoulda Known Better

Rating: 4/10 (13 September 2016)

OK, since I don't get my information about the JFK assassination from Oliver Stone, why do I expect "truth" from a guy who talks to chairs? Without question the movie is a technical marvel, and I understand that Mike O'Malley has to put food on the table and do what the director tells him to do, but this movie's gratuitous and conspiratorial bashing of career civil servants is going to drive me to Sully's autobiography and the NTSB transcripts. Did they really try to railroad guys who JUST SAVED 155 PEOPLE? Did they really hide the number of (SPOILER ALERT) failed simulations just to get Sully's silver scalp? Seriously? What could possibly be the government's motivation beyond (SPOILER ALERT) "big gubmint is evil"? And since Clint couldn't find a chair to play the lead villain, he had to find the smarmiest, most supercilious actor possible (again, sorry Mr. O'Malley.) Is this is actually what happened then my apologies, but I'll bet my talking chair that it's not. Some fictionalizations are harmless, and some, like "Eyes in the Sky" are really on the money about how bureaucracts work, but are there really no honorable and honest people in NTSB? Anybody at NTSB want to offer a review?
OK, after posting, I did indeed go to the web and read the extremely interesting and balanced NTSB accident report. Did I find the slightest criticism of Sully? Noooooo. Did I find any indications of efforts to blame him? Noooooo. I am so sick and tired of the sloppy and easy default of painting hard-working, conscientious people as villains just because they, gasp, are trying to keep the flying public safe by looking into accidents. In the report, the real villains are eight pound geese and overly long and cumbersome checklists, but I guess that ain't dramatic enough for ol' Clint.