SULLY  3.6***

                If there's one thing you can count on Clint Eastwood doing well, it's directing an emotionally heartfelt story.  “Sully” is about “The miracle on the Hudson” starring Tom Hanks, Aaron Eckhart, and Laura Linney. There are plenty of obstacles with any film about a true story, but with a film based on an event that lasted a mere 208 seconds, it's extra difficult. But Eastwood manages to pull a great story out of those unbelievable events that comes in just under 2 hours. Of course, the flight itself isn't the only hurdle that captain Sully went through, as he had deal with reporters, investigators, and especially the National Transportation Safety Board which seemed determined to diminish his heroic efforts by suggesting he could have landed at a nearby airport.

Who could possibly be better to play Captain Sully than the great Tom Hanks. And boy does Hanks ever deliver. He always effortlessly pulls off the dramatic speeches and powerful dialogue , but his more subtle acting is even more impressive. It's the moments when Sully is reacting to the big moments with only his facial expressions and body language that shows how great an actor he is..    

Eastwood ( and remember he’s 86 yrs. old) and his editors also deserve tons of credit for their work here. Much like Hanks' subtle acting, I love when Eastwood holds back the bombastic music (that can often overwhelm a good story) and lets the audience choose how to feel by watching excellent cinematography, acting and directing. This may be Eastwood's best directorial work since Million Dollar Baby. By the way, the understated Eastwood also composed much of the musical score for the movie.  

Most of all, this film is a great display of the power of the human spirit. Everything about this film is grounded with humanity. No one and nothing seems fake. So often Hollywood is flooded with over-the-top filmmaking that can easily dilute the power of the film's message. “Sully” knows exactly what it's going for, and it does it to near perfection.

It's rare for a film to inform, entertain, and inspire  all at the same time as this one does. By the way stay for roll of the  credits for the appearance of the real-life Sully and many of the real life survivors and crew all reunited alongside the actual plane (now in a museum in Charlotte NC) .

Clark