Better than expected

Rating: 8/10 (9 September 2016)

I 'thought' I new the story of what happened so I wasn't eager to go and see the movie. I figured I would wait until later in the year and just watch it 'On Demand' or some other way at home. But I kept thinking it must be pretty decent with Tom Hanks starring and when I realized Clint Eastwood directed the movie, that's when I decided I had to see it in the theater. SO glad I did and if I can make a recommendation, make sure to see this in a theater that offers Widescreen if possible.
Most people know about the heroic landing of the plane on the Hudson river in New York where all passengers and crew survived. But few of us, myself included, know all of the details that led up to that event happening. Nor was I aware of the questioning by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
What is also striking, is despite the heroic move by Captain Sullenberger, he is an incredibly humble man who clearly did not care for the spotlight nor the fame that came with this. It's interesting if you have ever seen the movie "Flight" with Denzel Washington where there is a horrific crash but the pilot minimizes the crash and everyone agrees he was the only one who could have done this. Good movie except that was fiction and in "Sully", this is real life and again, he is probably the only Captain who could or would have pulled off this miracle.
The only fictitious thing I would say about the movie was the part when people were boarding the plane. Everyone was extraordinarily courteous to each other. People helping others with their belongings in the overhead bins. Nobody bringing on excess luggage that won't even fit in the overhead. People being patient as they go down the isle looking for their seat and everyone saying thanks, excuse me and please. There was a woman sitting in a middle seat with an extremely young toddler in her lap. Yeah, don't think that's even allowed, but the man next to her was smiling and seemed so happy to be sitting next to a woman with a young child. The boarding of the plane was a bit fantasy and I heard quite a few people in the audience chuckling at that part. But otherwise, this is a great movie and here is my 2017 Oscar nomination predictions for this movie:

Best Picture Nominee - Tom Hanks, Nominated for Best Actor - Clint Eastwood, Nominated for Best Director - "Sully", nominated for best cinematography