If Tom Hanks has become today's go-to actor for portraying everyday American heroes, surely Clint Eastwood is at the top American Directors for traditional dramas.
These two USA Classics pair up for superb work on SULLY, the behind the scenes story of Captain Sully Sullenberger, the pilot who managed to land US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River next to Manhattan.
Shortly after taking off from LaGuardia, a massive flock of birds flies directly into the plane, taking out both engines and leaving Sully and the 155 people on board in the hands of his very fast decision making.
I've had friends say "why would I want to see a movie about a flight that lasted less than 4 minutes? I know what happens."
I promise you that there is a lot more to the story than your probably know and the film does a terrific job in its structure, unveiling the flight layer by layer.
Director Eastwood has always been a clever storyteller and he lives up to that here, showing you the flight in dream sequences, once from outside the cockpit, once almost solely IN the cockpit for the entire flight and yet again to show the heroic aftermath.
The brilliance of the real life event, of course, is that all the Americans on and around that flight in 2009 were quiet heroes in their own way, leaping to do the right thing and help each other with split second decisions and humanity.
Hanks is so damn good that it's easy to take his performance for granted, but Hanks finds real depth in a man suddenly thrust in the spotlight.
Aaron Eckhart is very good as co-pilot Jeff Skiles, Mike O'Malley is perfectly slimy as an investigator determined to prove Sully could have easily landed the plane back at LaGuardia and saved a whole lot of dollars and Anna Gunn is very good as a fellow panel member.
The flight and water landing sequences are first rate special effects showcases, with absolute realism from every angle.
You know the plane is going in the Hudson.
But credit Eastwood and Hanks for crafting a film with such a big heart that you're on the edge of your seat to find out JUST what happened from every angle.
Stay tuned during the ending credits for some terrific shots of the real life passengers reunited with Sully at the museum where the airplane now hangs, full size, as a tribute to that day.
I had the chance flying to the Super Bowl back in early 2010 to be on a flight with Sully, who was attending the game to be recognized during the pre-game for his heroism.
As he passed me, I shook his hand and said "Sully, shouldn't you be up there? (pointing at the cockpit). He put his hand on my shoulder and said "Don't worry, if they need me, I'll be right back here" and gave me a wink.
A cool moment, from a humble, modern-day hero.
Hanks and Eastwood are a terrific team, telling a powerful story that you only think you know.
Sully soars and gets an A.
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