Sully (2016)

9.45pm, Saturday, RTÉ One

“Everything is unprecedented until it happens for the rst time”

Who better than Tom Hanks to take on the true-life role of the heroic pilot who saved all his passengers and crew by crash-landing on the Hudson river? Knowing the outcome of the incident (and subsequent inquiry) doesn’t lessen the impact of this remarkable story.

As a lm-maker drawn to heroes whose valour is often forged in war or the old West, Clint Eastwood saw the Right Stu in this ordinary pilot, known as Sully; but he also wanted to convey heroic status on all those New Yorkers, from passengers to rst responders, who proved their mettle on that fateful day.

When Clint met the real Sully, he was instantly reminded of Gary Cooper. No surprise then that Tom Hanks should have gotten the nod for the lead role. Clint’s unfussy direction and Tom’s natural Everyman presence ensure that the story of how a calm, quick-thinking pilot saved every one of the 155 passengers and crew aboard his stricken Airbus is well told.

But it’s only half the story. Every epic tale needs a nemesis, and in this case, Sully’s nemesis is the National Transportation Safety Board, who initially query the pilot’s actions, inferring that his handling of the situation was irresponsible rather than heroic. This is grist to the mill of libertarian Clint, but it adds to the drama of what is already a barely credible yarn. By the way, having watched this; next time you’re on a plane (whenever that may be), you will actually pay close attention to the safety demonstration.