A masterful recreation of a recent aviation event

Rating: 7/10 (27 November 2016)

A US Airways jet with 155 passengers plus crew leaves LaGuardia Airport Jan. 15, 2009 in the early morning hours, experiencing trouble after just three minutes in the air: dual-engine failure due to bird strike. The pilot, Capt. Chesley Sullenberger and co-pilot, Jeffrey Skiles remarkably manage to land the plane on the Hudson River with no causalities, although the National Transportation Safety Board isn't quick to call "Sully" a hero. Director-co-producer Clint Eastwood does superb technical work, and no expense has been spared to make us feel we are in that plane as it splashes down in the freezing water. However, the investigation by the NTSB (portrayed as a bunch of sniveling villains) into Sullenberger's quick actions are heavy-handed, while the segues to Sullenberger's worried wife back home are equally dim (she isn't turned on by the media excitement, she can't sleep and she's worried about money). Eastwood certainly does well by his leading actors: Tom Hanks (with white hair as Sully) and Aaron Eckhart are both terrific, as is the intense, realistic action taking place on Flight 1549. An uneven film overall, though most often a powerful and emotional adventure. *** from ****