Excellent, harrowing film about a true American hero

Rating: 8/10 (28 September 2016)

Sully Sullenberger (Tom Hanks) has been flying since he was a teenage crop duster. Now after a gazillion flights, he takes the controls again with his co-pilot, Jeff Skiles (Aaron Eckhart) on a cold January day. But, alas, almost immediately after takeoff, a flock of geese fly into the engines, disabling both of them. As experienced pilots, both know how far a plane can fly to land. The air traffic controller offers a return to LaGuardia and a nearby Jersey airport. But, within a few seconds, Sully deems these choices impossible. The glorious Hudson river stretches out in front of them and Sully makes a MIRACULOUS landing in the water. Then, at once, the plane is taking water and the 155 passengers have to be rushed to the inflatable lifeboats and wait to be rescued by the Coast Guard. They are, all of them. Yet, Sully and Skiles must spend a few days in New York while the NSA begins to question their judgments on landing in the water. While Sully is a hero to the passengers, crew, and the whole world, the NSA bigwigs try to tell him he should have headed for the airports. Simulations show they could have made it. Aghast, Sully and Jeff counter that it was impossible. Further tests are ordered while Sully's wife (Laura Linney) is waiting for him, anxious and afraid his career will be over. Will it? This fine, 90 minute film is exciting and maddening. Hanks gives a great performance, making you forget everything but that he is Sully. Eckhart, Linney, and all of the others support him wonderfully. When Eastwood recreates the water landing, it is terrifying and amazing. But, how annoying it is that the NSA is slow to thank this great pilot and quick to doubt his abilities and decisions. Its probably routine but it sure doesn't seem like it. Audiences will like the NYC setting with lots of great views from the air, too. Inventive, also, is the director's choice to unfold the film, not chronologically, but in jumps between past and present. All in all, this is another masterful film by Ms. Clint Eastwood. See it, see it!