Sully (2016)

On January 15, 2009, the pilot Chesley Sullenberger (Tom Hanks) is forced to crash land his plane and 155 passengers and crew into the Hudson river after engine failure. Miraculously all survive and he is declared a hero but he must prove himself all over again to a skeptical aeronautic bureaucracy. Director Clint Eastwood in top form and a sensational central performance by Tom Hanks. Most of Eastwood's films hover around the 2 hour mark or longer but this one is a lean 90 minutes (longer if you count the end credits). Eastwood doesn't pad out the story with the passengers on the plane as a lesser director might have done and made this akin to an AIRPORT like disaster film. The focus is always on Sullenberger and the aftermath. Eastwood mixes a semi-documentary format with a movie bio and a thriller and it all works. I should mention the fine work by Aaron Eckhart as the co-pilot and Laura Linney as Hanks's wife in smaller roles that other actors might have walked through. Is there a more ungrateful role than "the wife" of the protagonist yet Linney somehow manages to bring up some strong moments. Even the underscore by Christian Jacob is restrained and discreet, avoiding "action" or "suspense" cues and even avoiding using music altogether. With Jamey Sheridan, Anna Gunn, Katie Couric and Michael Rapaport.