Sully: Miracle on the Hudson with Tom Hanks

The Story of Sully

• Sully premiered on November 30, 2016. Sully tells the true story of a plane that made an emergency landing on the Hudson River with no fatalities, thanks to the pilot’s composure and experience.
• On January 15, 2009, pilot Chesley Sullenberger, played by Tom Hanks, and first officer Jeffrey Skyles take off from LaGuardia Airport bound for Charlotte, North Carolina and Seattle. Just two minutes after takeoff, their Airbus 320 strikes a flock of birds, causing a severe loss of engine power. Sullenberger attempts to reach Teterboro Airport in New Jersey, but ultimately decides to ditch the plane in the Hudson.
• The aircraft lands intact and all 150 passengers and 5 crew members are rescued safely. Director Clint Eastwood’s Sully goes beyond the dramatic landing itself. He also explores the investigation and accusations against the pilot. Initially hailed as a hero, Sullenberger later faces scrutiny from authorities who claim the plane had enough power to land normally on a New Jersey runway.

New York in Sully

• An anachronism slipped into the Sully movie poster. Can you spot it? I’ll give you a few more seconds before revealing the answer.
• Here it is: US Airways Flight 1549 crashed on January 15, 2009. Yet the poster shows One World Trade Center completed—something that was far from reality in 2009, as you can see in the New York skyline photo taken in October 2009 below.
• Construction of the tower began in November 2006, and by 2009 work was still at the foundation stage. The tower reached half its planned height in December 2010 and topped out in May 2012. Clint Eastwood apparently preferred to rewrite history.

What Readers Say

• Denis G.: A good film and another talented performance from Tom Hanks!
• Isa A.: Watched it yesterday and it’s a majestic film. I vaguely remember this event, but Clint Eastwood captured the human side of this story beautifully. I highly recommend it—what this experienced pilot managed to do is surreal, especially when his own administration tried to blame him. Definitely worth seeing.
• Damien M.: The film’s central question is whether a return to the airport was possible. Tom Hanks delivers his talent once again in a role that suits him perfectly, keeping you in suspense right through to the investigation’s conclusion. A must-watch!
• Frank L.: Yes, it’s quite good. The opening is a bit chaotic, but the film builds momentum. When you think about what the passengers went through, it’s just incredible.
• Delphine W.-T.: Worth seeing! Well directed. Tom Hanks is perfect.
• André F.: Clint Eastwood at his finest. Tom Hanks perfect as Sully. Don’t hesitate to watch it.
• Finally, I love David‘s comment that the film is “perfect viewing between flights.”

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