Tom Hanks, who played the captain of the hijacked Maersk merchant ship in Captain Phillips, is back again as a captain in his new film Sully. This time, he plays the role of US Airways flight 1549’s captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger. Sullenberger had successfully executed an emergency water landing on the Hudson River in 2009. The trailer was released on 29 June and had nearly 1.5 million views in two days.
A biographical story, the film looks set to be a formidable contender for next year’s Oscars, with a thrilling storyline and a star cast comprising of Aaron Eckhart (Sully’s co-pilot), Laura Linney (Sully’s adoring wife), and Anna Gunn from Breaking Bad. The film has been directed by Clint Eastwood, director of the Oscar-nominated biopics and dramas The Million Dollar Baby, Changeling, Mystic River, and Letters From Iwo Jima.
Appearing older than his age with a slightly altered American accent to resemble the real Sully, Tom Hanks sums up the film in the line: “I’ve been in the air for 40 years, but in the end, I’m gonna be judged on 208 seconds.” With thrilling background music, viewers catch a glimpse of not just the panic and chaos minutes before the emergency landing, but also scenes from the aftermath of the incident. The world outside looks at Sully as a hero. Inside, Sully struggles with his own conscience.
While the real Sully faced little criticism for the emergency landing, the film will explore whether Sully was indeed a hero who saved the lives of 155 people on board.
Eastwood’s familiar gripping narrative style is visible in the 2 minute trailer, although the storyline bears an uncanny resemblance to Robert Zemeckis’ Flight (2012), which starred Denzel Washington as the ‘hero’ pilot.
The film, produced by Warner Bros, is slated to release on 9 September.