US Airways Flight 1549 took off from LaGuardia Airport and 208 seconds later had a “forced water landing” in the Hudson River. We all remember the dazed passengers standing on the wings of the plane waiting for the ferries to rescue them. Tom Hanks plays the pilot, Chesley Sullenberger, who makes the fateful decision not to try to turn back to LaGuardia or try for Teterboro Airport in New Jersey but to put his plane down in the Hudson River. We know the story, we know the ending, so what is there to hold our attention? Sully manufactures a lot of drama as the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigates the incident. This movie is less than 90 minutes but it felt longer. GRADE: B-
When I heard about the movie, I was surprised to hear that Sully was being investigated. All I remembered was that he did something heroic and saved all those lives.
this is certainly a netflix for me
Maggie, I know there was an investigation, but it wasn’t this one in the movie.
And he really wasn’t investigated in the way the movie portrayed. A real lie. Tom Hanks makes too many movies where he gets to play a hero. A good actor would play a more nuanced character occasionally.
Patti, I agree. Much of the stress put on Tom Hanks’s character was artificial.
Totally was NOT investigated. As Patti said, this is BS. Will wait for cable/Netflix. (We just got Amazon Prime, even more reason not to go to mediocre movies.)
Jeff, I really like AMAZON PRIME movies! And I need to finish watching the final episodes of THE MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE.
That is on our list, along with BOSCH and ORPHAN BLACK Season 3.
Yes–I think you hit the nail on the head with the words “manufactured drama.” You’d think the story of landing a damaged plane on the water and evacuating the plane with no loss of life would be dramatic enough, but no, the filmmakers have to invent this entire investigation angle. Yes, every plane crash of any sort is investigated, but I don’t think Sully was scrutinized or criticized for any of the actions he took.
And I agree with Patti–Hanks is a pretty one-note actor in things like this. All in all, a pass for me.
Deb, without the phony “investigation” this would have been a 10 minute movie.
Barbara liked it, but she went knowing the investigation part was over-blown. We both like Hanks in most roles, so I can’t agree with the negatives expressed by others here. Purely a matter of taste, I’m sure.
Rick, Diane and I liked the movie, but are critical of the phony elments to gin up the “suspense.”
Yes, he is good in these roles. But they are very easy to play roles. Would like to see him return to films like PHILADAELPHIA. If you compare him to Jimmy Stewart-he occasionally did a film like REAR WINDOW whereas Hanks would not.
Patti, Tom Hanks will be starring in another Dan Brown movie, INFERNO. That’s about 180 degrees from REAR WINDOW.
What I took away from this movie (as well as CASTAWAY, APOLLO 13, and CAPTAIN PHILLIPS. is: Never travel with Tom Hanks!
Dan, but if you have to fly during a severe bird strike, you want Tom Hanks to be your pilot!
Dammit Jim, I’m not a Doctor but the man is obviously cursed!
Dan, true…so true!
George, I will be watching this film for Tom Hanks and also because it’s a Clint Eastwood film.