May’s movie review is on Sully (2016), the story of how Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger landed US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River after a bird strike had knocked out both engines. It happened on January 15, 2009.
What worked
* The director (Clint Eastwood) let us relive the crucial moments in the cockpit. No carefully-scripted dialogue, no contrived plot elements. Instead, he let us see the Canada geese hit the plane head-on, made us think through the options, face the approaching ground.
* The initial findings of the National Transportation Safety Board, which I didn’t see coming, heightened the tension.
* Remember the photo of people lined up on the wings of the plane in the water? I had forgotten there were 155 people on the plane that day. Everyone survived! If you watch the movie, stick around for the credits, and you’ll get to see the real Sully with the real passengers.
What the movie left out
One thing I remember hearing in the news reports about the miraculous landing was that Captain Sully was a certified glider pilot and knew instinctively what to do when he lost both engines. How fortuitous! Would a pilot who didn’t have his glider know-how and experience have been able to safely land the jet on the river? Only God knows.
Who would enjoy watching Sully
People who like harrowing tales, the miracle of flight, happy endings, and great acting by Tom Hanks and Aaron Eckhart will like this film.
The book
Now that I’ve watched the movie, I can’t wait to read Sully’s book, first published in 2010 as Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters, and reprinted in 2016 as Sully: My Search for What Really Matters.
Posted on May 2, 2017
Norma Nill 
Good movie! We saw it when it first came out. So many things worked together on that day. God had a plan there!
You said it well, Carolyn, that “God had a plan.” Thanks for your comment!
Excellent review, Norma. We look forward to seeing the film. Maybe I’ll check out the book, too!
Thanks, Judy! It’s one of those nail-biters for sure.