The Prof says it's bright and clear and sunny in Norway.
It's rather dull and drab here.
I took myself off to the cinema this afternoon to see Clint Eastwood's latest movie SULLY .
Sully is the nickname of Chesley Sullenberger, the pilot who landed his airliner on a freezing Hudson River after it was struck by a flock of birds soon after leaving LaGuardia airport in 2009 and the film tells the story of the forced landing ( albeit in flashback) and the subsequent National Transportation Safety Board's investigation who sought to prove that Sullenberger could have landed his aircraft safely at the airport.
I suspect Eastwood is very much like Sullenberger, as the film, like the pilot, is a calm, unpretentious and unshowy piece that reeks of professional storytelling and unsentimentally.
Played with a quiet dignity by Tom Hanks, Sullenberger is portrayed as a calm, systematic thinker and obvious hero of the piece. However we do not find much else about him during this 96 minute film.His personality or his personal life are somewhat played down -though we are able to witness brief snippets of phone conversations he has with his dutiful wife ( an underused Laura Linney) but I suppose that is a minor complaint as the interactions of Sullenberger with his co pilot Jeff Silkes ( Aaron Eckhart) during the emergency literally blows your mind by it's calm control.
Strong silent type heros.........Mr Eastwood would approve of and would, in his day, would loved to have played
7.5/10
I have yet to see that, I hope to, one of these days.
ReplyDeleteNorway ...
Tom Hanks is such a brilliant film actor. His range of roles has been amazing. Only because of his presence in this film, I may well go to see it.
ReplyDeleteHumm... soon will see
ReplyDeletehttp://www.melodyjacob.com/
Hummm ......hope you enjoy
DeleteYour post has me decided to see Sully. A favorite Clint Eastwood role for me is Gran Torino. Sully, or the main character in Gran Torino, are men I would want by my side in time of trouble.
ReplyDeleteEastwood is not a showy director so don't expect Airport 77
DeleteThe NTSB was not nearly as hostile as portrayed and was used to create drama. The real drama was in the landing and it's effect on the passengers and I think Eastwood totally failed to mine that mighty potential. You'r 7.5 is about right.
ReplyDeleteAgreed..
DeleteThe passenger experience was somewhat played down
A close friend of ours here flew with Sully when Sully was a co-pilot and our friend was the captain.
ReplyDeleteHe thought highly of Sully and enjoyed the film. All the pilots we know agree that the grilling Sully was put through afterwards was exaggerated
and more to add dramatic interest to the film.
As was the last minute reveal that the second engine WAS struck by birds too
DeleteThis has been on my list for a while. Will try to see during the holidays. Love both Hanks & Eastwood.
ReplyDeleteI loved the movie. It is mostly true (per Sully, they exaggerated the antagonism)and both Sully and Tom Hanks are wonderful people. We need more stories about good people doing good, brave things, but they probably would bomb at the box office. Bad people and bad things make money. Look at Trump.
ReplyDeleteI also enjoyed Allied. Old fashioned war story with intrigue told very well. Have you seen that one?
Not yet my friend......I like cottillard so will see it
DeleteWe enjoyed this movie too. Tom Hanks always gives a good performance. I agree that Laura Linney had a thankless role that was way beneath her talents.
ReplyDeleteI have two connections to this event. The flock that interfered with the flight flew up from my son's high school campus, where the boys were forever chasing off the birds. He has often wondered if boys chased the birds that day. Also on that day, I drove by on the Henry Hudson Highway and saw a stunning sight, a plane in the middle of the river with people standing on both its wings as rescue boats sped toward them. I marvel that I actually saw this. And yet I have not yet seen the film. I suppose I should. This is a great review.
ReplyDeleteI adored this comment as it reminds us of the REALITY of the hole story...you witnessed a happy piece of history old gal .....a celebration of all that is good!
DeleteWe're going to see it tomorrow. Beloved has Meercat Movies, so two seats for £6.00, with free tea or coffee. Shame I don't drink either. Looking forward to it. 😆😆😆 Cathy.
ReplyDeleteThis is one film I've been looking forward to....love Tom Hanks. He's a great actor.
ReplyDeleteWe're going to see this on Saturday, Office Xmas Party on Friday and I saw The Edge of Seventeen today. It's The Nutcracker on Thursday .... God I love my Cineworld Unlimited card 😉 Allied was brilliant, we saw that last week 😊
ReplyDeleteYou should try theatre colwyn only 5 £ a ticket!
ReplyDeleteI'd watch the film for entertainment but there is a documentary I've seen which is nearly as long as the film and it didn't leave anything out. It was very dramatic and I have always said if you want to feel freezing watch 'Titanic' but this really did freeze me to the bone.
ReplyDeleteGood point! Well made
DeleteI hear depressing winters hit Norway hard
ReplyDeleteSully was a hero, vilified by media. A common practice these days. Eastwood always gets to the heart of the truth.
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ReplyDeleteWhen we were in N Y our hotel was on one of the roads which led down to the Hudson River and the receptionist told us that the plane actually landed at the end of the road. We walked down to have a look and I must say it all looked pretty terrifying.
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ReplyDeleteSully does sound good. I am looking forward to seeing it on DVD, I vowed not to pay to see any more of Eastwood's films when he became such a right-wing jerk. I'm sure he's crushed by my decision.
ReplyDeleteCan't take issue with anything you say, J.G. - and just to let you know, I'm slow on the uptake because my computer's been down for a day and a half. Just got it back from repairs.
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