This next review features two, new films: Sully and Snowden. It’s obvious that these are two different films but yet they are similar at the same time: both tell the story of significant events – and people – in recent history.

Sully

The Clint Eastwood film stars Tom Hanks as Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, the man who made a daring and heroic landing of United Airlines Flight 1549 on the Hudson River in 2009. Eastwood takes us into the moments leading up to, during and after the “Miracle on the Hudson” including the ingenious fight back from Sully and his co-pilot, Jeff Skiles (Aaron Eckhart), while facing scrutiny during a National Transportation Safety Board investigation.

Sully is a good film that chronicles a very important moment in history. The actors provide exquisite performances and the film’s plot is nothing short of intense. My only knock on it is it does seem to last for three hours although it’s just an hour and a half long film. There were plot points that took forever to develop and the film jumped around quite a bit from past to present. All in all, it’s definitely one I’d recommend.

I Give It A: B+


Check Out the Trailer Here

Snowden

The Oliver Stone-directed biopic chronicles Edward Snowden, an NSA employee who discovers illegal surveillance practices by the agency and leaks his findings to the press. In the film, we follow Snowden (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) on a journey from his days in the military to a job at the CIA and, eventually, the NSA. We follow the dark times in Snowden’s life as well, such as being administratively discharged from the military due to an injury he sustained, trials and tribulations with his on-again-off-again girlfriend, Lindsay Mills (Shailene Woodley), as well as the ramifications of exposing the NSA.

What can I say? Snowden was every bit the intriguing and eye-opening film I thought it would be. It forces you to think about your government, your country and the ideal of “right to privacy.” Plus, it doesn’t hurt to have an all-star cast, lead by Gordon-Levitt who has the Midas touch with any role he’s tapped to play. Don’t be surprised if we hear about Snowden come Oscars time.

I Give It An: A

Check Out the Trailer Here