Tom Hanks, known for portraying morally righteous characters in many of the best movies he stars in, showcased his acting prowess in the 2016 film Sully, directed by Clint Eastwood. In this cinematic depiction of real-life events, Hanks played airline pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, who made a daring emergency landing on the Hudson River in 2009 to save the lives of passengers on board.
Eastwood, known for his directorial skill in bringing true stories to the screen, added an extra layer of authenticity to Sully by incorporating real people who were involved in the actual rescue effort. During scenes recreating the rescue of passengers from the river after the emergency landing, Eastwood invited some of the individuals who participated in the real-life rescue to be part of the film.
Hanks shared his insights with Variety, stating, “That was in the spirit of Sully saying: ‘Everyone did their job that day’. If you were there that day, you could come and be part of the shoot, and what was going to be a part of the popular record of what happened that day.”
This approach aligns with Eastwood’s penchant for casting real people in his films based on true stories. In the 2018 movie The 15:17 to Paris, Eastwood cast the actual individuals who thwarted a terrorist attack to play themselves. While casting accomplished actors like Tom Hanks is often a natural choice, the inclusion of real participants brings a unique level of verisimilitude to the storytelling, creating a blend of Hollywood talent and real-world experience on screen.
