a mixed bag

Rating: 7/10 (21 November 2017)

The good news : Eastwood wisely refrained from cheap melodramatics. Sadly the movie veers too much in the other direction (pardon the pun), causing the story to lose much of what made it so remarkable in the first place. "Sully" does not contain much in the way of epic grandeur, white-knuckle tension, unbearable suspense or trenchant comment. There's not even much dramatic conflict or contrast ; even the various aviation experts and inspectors grilling Captain Sullenberger are just hard-working people trying to do an ungrateful job.
To continue with the good, the landing in the river is superbly filmed, from a technical viewpoint, and there is a fine performance by Hanks. It's a pity that Mr. Hanks has played this kind of role - competent and decent man rises to the challenge - so many times before : it is not a case of Captain Sullenberger being played by Tom Hanks, it is a case of Tom Hanks playing Captain Sullenberger, which is lethal to the suspension of disbelief. And yes, I do realize that there's an injustice involved,since Hanks only became a world-famous actor thanks to his hard work and stellar talent - but that's Art for you, she devours her own darlings.
One also wonders at the way some of the characters were conceived. I do not know Mrs. Sullenberger - I've never even met her - and as a result it would be hugely presumptuous of me to write anything about her nature and temper. For all I know, or don't know, she may be one of the most delightful and enchanting persons living in the USA. Mrs. Sullenberger the character, however, is seriously annoying : dull, shallow, whining and ungrateful. One gets why her husband (again, I'm talking about the character) travels the world - anything to put 200 miles between him and boredom personified. It is less clear why he neglects to engineer a sad accident where his spouse falls out of an airplane.
If I were real-life Mrs. Sullenberger, I'd go and consult a good lawyer with a background in libel cases.