Movie Review: Sully..follows a simple and somewhat effective flight plan

There is a difference between the real life and the cinematic. However true to life we want movies to be, we want to be taken along a journey, feel the highs and lows with its characters and truly live the experience, albeit vicariously. If presented in exactly the fashion that they would have happened, we tend to miss some of the emotions, tense nature of some of the moments and maybe even wonder why things seem so plain. For me that’s one of the key ‘flaws’ in what is otherwise a masterful effort to depict the real life heroics of Captain Sullenberger – Sully.

The movie starts off on a different note, assuming we already know about the incident and chooses to focus instead on the possible implications of what has occurred and what ought to have occurred. While intriguing, it’s a tad confusing as to where this is going to all be headed. However, a very timely flashback to the actual events, grabs your attention and doesn’t let go till pretty much the end credits.

There is a lot that is nuanced about the way director Clint Eastwood has made Sully. What could’ve been a tense, knuckle whitening, pulse quickening affair complete with a pounding background score that literally walked you through the ordeal, is actually presented as a true life account resembling more a documentary than an action film.

Given that the actual action itself was over an exceedingly short period of time, instead of slowing down time and taking you frame by frame on what actually happened – the movie chooses to instead show you the same events from multiple perspectives. It’s a choice that doesn’t make itself obvious at the outset but when you reflect on it – it’s a pretty smart one. However, as understated as it comes out, you might be forgiven if you completely miss it as well.

On the acting front, Tom Hanks is ever-dependable as Sully himself, though he hardly gets to do any ‘acting’ given his vast talent – Captain Phillips got him to more (and even that one didn’t get him to do much). Aaron Eckhart again immerses himself into the co-pilot’s character and despite the limited airtime, makes his presence felt.

Heart of hearts though, while I can appreciate this form of film-making I am personally a bigger fan of the Paul Greengrass variety – where the tension builds up, the movie grabs you by the jugular and doesn’t let go till its all over. There was so much more emotion and gravitas that could’ve pulled into this film – with accounts from the actual passengers and crew – ‘educating’ the audience on what would have been a very difficult decision and underlying further the heroics and the flawless execution.

Sully is different kind of cinema – more understated, more subtle and more like how it would have actually happened. I don’t fault the film making but I would’ve definitely liked to get more out of the experience.