With the highly-anticipated Sully , are Tom Hanks and Clint Eastwood heading for Oscar buzz?
Many fans and critics that watched the recently released trailer for the movie, which is based on a true story, likely agree that Hanks’ performance in the Clint Eastwood-directed film will at least be considered for an Oscar nomination.
Tom Hanks survived a plane crash in ‘Cast Away’ & does it all over again in #Sully trailer: https://t.co/uiuq0Q9Vdu pic.twitter.com/WxyVszinSH
— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) July 3, 2016
In addition to matching the hair and mustache color of the real-life Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, Tom Hanks seemed to dive headfirst into the role of the controversial hero known for the “Miracle on the Hudson.” The movie focuses on the headline-making event which occurred on January 15, 2009 when Captain Sullenberger flew a disabled plane into the Hudson River and saved 155 lives that were onboard.
Based on the footage shown in the movie trailer, it seems as if the film will also focus on the aftermath of the incident – including the investigations that focused on Sully’s reputation and career.
Tom Hanks soars in first trailer for Clint Eastwood’s “Sully” https://t.co/PjHtfXvfh5 pic.twitter.com/dfaR7bIOHj
— Huffington Post (@HuffingtonPost) June 30, 2016
According to Variety , longtime director Clint Eastwood will essentially be making cinematic history with the September theatrical release of Sully thanks to a particular decision that he made in regard to the technology used to make the film. The report states that Eastwood decided to use IMAX cameras for the biopic.
#ClintEastwood filmed #Sully almost entirely with IMAX cameras. See it September 8! https://t.co/N3Zap5uRvt pic.twitter.com/ztIjdfb8uB
— Roadshow Films (@RoadshowFilms) July 1, 2016
The mere concept alone of using IMAX cameras is definitely not a new concept within the world of filmmaking. Instead of solely using the cameras for a few key scenes in the film, however, Eastwood reportedly decided to use them for the entire movie. Richard Gelfond, the CEO of IMAX, confirmed the news with Variety – claiming that “Clint decided to try it and he just loves the cameras.”
Sully will, therefore, make history with IMAX – becoming the first movie that was virtually made entirely with IMAX technology. It is true that Anthony and Joe Russo are using 2D digital IMAX cameras to shoot the next two parts of the blockbuster Avengers franchise. However, Sully will beat those two movies to the finish line since they are respectively set to hit theaters in 2017 and 2018.
The poster for SULLY, the new Clint Eastwood film starring Tom Hanks. pic.twitter.com/P5TARdh1B5
— Notebook (@NotebookMUBI) June 29, 2016
If Tom Hanks does manage to generate Oscar buzz with Sully , it would not be the first time for the two-time Oscar winner. Hanks won his first Oscar in 1993 for Philadelphia and followed it up with another win in the following year for Forrest Gump . Both Oscar wins were in the same category – “Best Actor.” Along with his two wins, Hanks has been nominated for an Oscar five times (so far) in his career.
#TBT to the 1995 Oscars, where Tom Hanks won his second consecutive Oscar for Forrest Gump! #ahologramfortheking pic.twitter.com/EZmQeSgNvE
— IconFilmDistribution (@IconFilm) May 19, 2016
Clint Eastwood has not won an Oscar for his acting yet in his decades-long career in Hollywood. However, Eastwood won “Best Picture” and “Best Director” Oscars for the 1992 film Unforgiven as well as the 2004 film Million Dollar Baby .
Unforgiven Clint Eastwood collects his Oscars pic.twitter.com/mdQYrhR23c
— jamesjbjorkman (@jjbjorkman) June 16, 2016
Perhaps Sully will allow Tom Hanks and Clint Eastwood to both walk away with another Oscar win to add to their growing list of accolades and accomplishments.
Sully is set to fly into theaters on September 9. Along with Tom Hanks, the movie’s cast also features performances from Aaron Eckhart, Anna Gunn, and Laura Linney.
[Image Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images]