The 2009 forced landing of an American Airlines flight in New York City was one of those ongoing media stories you just knew was eventually going to be made into a movie.
The media at the time dubbed the incident ‘The miracle on the Hudson’ and those who followed the unfolding drama will want to watch director Clint Eastwood’s latest film Sully.
The public and the media dubbed Captain Chesley Sullenberger a hero after the airbus he was piloting struck a flock of birds, destroying both engines and crippling the aircraft.
The plane was forced to land in the freezing January waters of the Hudson River in New York and the captain saved the lives of all 155 people on board.
While the world praised his efforts those behind the scenes namely the Federal Aviation Authority criticised Sully for putting people’s lives in danger, telling him that computer simulations showed he could have made it safely back to one of the nearby airports.
Tom Hanks, who plays the title character and Aaron Eckhart who plays his ever-faithful co-pilot, give outstanding lead performances.
The men struggle to keep their cool as they find themselves at the centre of sometimes unwanted international attention.
Eastwood plays out the pressures, the nightmares and the eventual triumphs in engrossing style.
The film brought out mixed feelings and questions as to whether there was too much pressure on people who are labelled as ‘heroes’.
If it is an engrossing drama you are after, look no further than Sully.
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Distributor: Warner Bros./Village Roadshow
Rated: M
Out now on DVD and Blu Ray
