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Tom Hanks stars as celebrated pilot Chesley Sullenberger, who safely landed his U.S. Airways passenger plane on the Hudson River after the unprecedented scenario of losing both engines to bird-strike shortly after take-off. Director Clint Eastwood lets this true story unfold with the greatest of ease. Nothing is sensationalized — all the emotions Sully evokes are earnest and sincere. I found it a very uplifting film to watch — especially when New Yorkers scramble to rescue the passengers from the river.

Screenwriter Todd Komarnicki structures the film around the legal and insurance hearings that plagued Sully almost immediately after the passengers were rescued. While the press declared Sully a hero, the man himself felt anything but heroic, fearing that he might lose his pension and his job as the bureaucrats tried to pin the event on human error. But before you think this might be a dry courtroom trial flick, believe me: it’s not. Sully is front and center, haunted by the landing, which is relived in full detail in the middle of the film.

Aaron Eckhart gives a solid supporting turn as Sully’s co-pilot, and Laura Linney appears as Sully’s wife.

In a time when remakes and superhero movies dominate the theaters, it’s very much worth noting — hell, celebrating — that Clint Eastwood is still telling powerful, human dramas. And that people are still showing up to see them. (Sully far surpassed box office predictions to be number one in the nation this week, with $35 million in domestic ticket sales.)

Oscar Nomination: Best Sound Editing