SULLY : Justice to The Highest Duty

Rating: 9/10 (14 September 2016)

He had done it before and he had done it a few more times after that.And every time he made it a point to not miss the target . Taking the apprehension out of the head of the viewer,laying it down nice n easy, stripping it to its purest form and then delivering the final dose with dexterity; Clint Eastwood has done it once again. The ability to lift a viewer's soul from the seat and placing it in the story delivering an out of body experience is the skill very few possess.Considering Mr.Eastwood's interest and success,particularly of late, in making movies based on true events, Sully was looked forward to pretty anticipatedly in the erudite factions of the fraternity and audience.So when you have such agenda on your hands and stakes are high, obviously, you need the perfect tools to realize the vision.
First, Tom Hanks. One of the very few actors who not only understand their role but also are able to share the vision of the director in the movie making process (I guess that's what makes him a very successful producer as well). Speaking a bit about Tom. Over the course of his career, he has taken me, like the countless others, on a roller coaster ride of the modern cinema and has added many dimensions to movie watching. For me, he has given the confidence to let go of fear, doubt, and disbelief regarding whether the actors are doing justice to what exactly director had in mind, whenever he's on screen.
Now, about the movie. It paces nicely giving out the necessary realistic vibes. Hanks, in all senses literal and figurative, is the captain here.He handles the build-up and unraveling of a small but well-rounded web perfectly.I see no one else than Tom playing the audacious Ct. Chesley Sullenberger. Now since it's all happened and wrote upon it's not a spoiler to say that it's about a 'plane landing in the river'. In the process of achieving a singular class in the making, the crux of this event is shown in three different perspectives, each going on and adding the much-required dimension to the viewer's understanding of the scenario. You just have to experience the joy of putting those perspectives together to form the whole of the event. Also, in an excellent display of 'shot- making', Eastwood, builds the protagonist's drama of the story with a forehand and points out potholes in the judiciary system in a cautious backhand.And all this fitted cozily in 95 minutes of running time, is a hats-off effort from the team. Take a bow. Also, Aaron Eckhart is worth mentioning here, as he plays perfect Watson to Hank's Holmes. Rest of the cast does just about enough not to get noticed for any wrong reasons, Barring Anna Gunn. To whom, by the way, you have already given a fair share of loathing in Breaking Bad (:P) and you won't be seen making friends with her here either.
I was wondering, before, that why the movie was being made in IMAX, since it did not have the blockbuster visual element to it , only to learn that there's that one little step taken,very much necessary to depict a plummeting A320 from a spectacular New-York skyline in the backdrop to the fluvial water body of the Hudson. It does take you from eliciting awe to dropping jaw. It's worth it. Good call Blondie. And since on the topic, a worthy mention here for cinematographer Tom Stern,Who's been Clint's sidekick in the camera department in many of his previous directorial ventures, for crafting some IMAX worthy sequences and putting the peripheral vision of the viewer to a good use.
Since Interstellar broke the stereotypes of background scores by using it generously, audaciously, and successfully, I make it a point to take notice the use (over/under) of background score in a film. No follies here as well, as Sully is punctuated with background score only when necessary, giving enough scope for the viewer to let the reality of the events unfolding on screen, sink in..Deep.
The body-binding spell cast by the powerful duo of cinematic wizards will take quite some time to wear off. In all regards of film- making, justice is served. Bon appetit.