DB Reviews- The Mule

Poster from IMDB

Hello everyone! Welcome to my review of The Mule, the newest film from director (and star of said film) Clint Eastwood! WARNING: THERE ARE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW! If you don't want to be spoiled, then please go see the film before you continue reading! 

This film is inspired by true events. In the film, Eastwood (of Dirty Harry and Unforgettable fame) plays a Korean War vet and horticulturist named Earl Stone. He's estranged from his family and desperate for money. So, he becomes a "mule" (a person that transports drugs from one location to another) for a cartel from Mexico. Hot on his heels is Colin Bates (played by Bradley Cooper), a DEA agent set out to bust the cartel for drug dealing! 

Clint Eastwood is a legend in Hollywood! Even though his character got mixed up with some bad people, I like him. I thought Eastwood did a great job handling the emotional scenes in the film, like the one where his character's wife dies from cancer. Also, I like his insult comebacks! Those were clever! Plus, his advice to Cooper's character was good and should be used in the real world! Will he get an Oscar nomination for Best Actor? We will have to see! He uses the money he gets in a Robin Hood way, by giving it to the people and places that need it most. In a way, he touched other people's lives, like George Bailey from "It's A Wonderful Life". 

Bradley Cooper plays Colin Bates, a DEA agent that was based off the real DEA agent in the true events that inspired this movie. I think he did an OK job in the role. I felt that the scene where he and Eastwood's character had the chat where Eastwood's character offered him advice was a good scene that helped us learn more about his character. We need more scenes like that in movies. 

I like Eastwood as a director too! He did a good job directing Sully. I think his work on Sully was better then this film, but he does know his stuff! 

The story was OK. I don't know much about what actually happened, so I can't say if the writing was on point or not. The film was a bit slow and I do think Eastwood needed to add some sort of scene where his character shoots the bad guys. He is known for doing that in his westerns. 

So, overall, I'd give this film 3 AND 1/2 STARS! I also like the song choices in the film, especially "I've Been Everywhere, Man!" from Johnny Cash! I think that song definitely suits Eastwood's character well, since he's been almost everywhere around the USA! Thanks for reading! 

If you want to use any of what I say in this review for any trailers or TV ads for this movie, you may do so! By the way, Laurence Fishburn was in this movie too as the lead DEA agent in charge! 

DB Reviews- Sully

Image from birthmoviedeath.com

Hello, and welcome to my latest review! This review is off the new movie Sully, based off the book Highest Duty by Capt Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger. The book itself is based off of true events. I'll be posting a video review of this film on my Youtube channel too! To see it, click here: 

This movie, and the book that inspired this movie, were based on actual events. If you don't know what happened (perhaps you were born after the events occurred), then here's what happened: 

On January 15, 2009, an aircraft (Flight 1549), piloted by Sully and his first officer Jeff Skiles (protrayed by Aaron Eckhart in the film), was lifting off from New York's LaGuardia airport. It was en route towards Charlotte, North Carolina when a flock of geese flew into both the plane's engines, causing the plane to lose control of them. When this happened, Capt Sully radioed TRACON (Terminal Radar Approach Control), stating that he lost the thrusters in both engines because of the birds. Sully had to turn back towards LaGuardia, but he didn't feel like the aircraft would make it there safely. He then decided to land the plane in the Hudson River, even though he had open runways both at LaGuardia and at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey, located across from New York. The flight's North Carolina destination was a stop over on it's way to Seattle, Washington. 

During that time, Capt Sully told everyone on board to brace for impact. All 155 people (passengers and crew) survived because of Sully's heroic move to land the plane in the Hudson. Local ships around the river and emergency responders quickly made their way towards the floating plane, which was taking water on. All the passengers and crew got off the plane safely and hit dry land. Because of this, Captain Sullenberger was hailed a hero, along with his fellow flight crew. 

The focus of the movie was what happened during the NTSB's investigation into the landing. They called this event a crash, but Sully (played by Tom Hanks) called it a water landing or ditching. Most of the NTSB believed that Sully could've made it to one of the two airports mentioned safely, but Sully didn't think so. 

The writers of this film definitely did their homework on this movie. The story was great! Not only did they depict the events of the landing correctly, but the writers brought us into the life of Capt. Sullenberger afterwards. They did a great job telling Sully's story! 

Tom Hanks did a fantastic job protraying Sully!  I agree with the actual survivors of the event when they said Hank's portrayal of Sully was spot on!  He did a great job putting Sully's emotions onto the big screen. He did great at portraying Sully's sadness, worriness and happiness. I believe that the real Sully was feeling emotional during the investigation and I think Hanks did a great job showing us what Sully was feeling during this ordeal. Plus, Hanks looked good in that little white mustache! 

I also liked Aaron Eckhart's role in this film. To me, he did a better performance as the first officer in this film then he did the president in London Has Fallen or even Olympus Has Fallen. He did a good job in trying to convince naysayers that Sully did the right move. 

Clint Eastwood has had a good rep as a director. I thought he did a good job with this film. I agree with my mom in saying each scene's timing was excellent! Eastwood established himself to be a good director after his success in acting. Could this movie bring him another nomination for Best Director? Possibly. If so, I'm rooting for him to win it! 

Could this movie overall be a good nomination for Best Picture? I think so! I would also give it a nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay, maybe even a Best Actor nomination for Hanks and Best Supporting Actor for Eckhart. 

I also liked the effects, especially the ones that showed what could've happened if Sully didn't land the plane on the Hudson. 

Overall, I was very pleased with this movie. The story was good, the acting was great and the scenes were well done. 

I believe that Sully did the right move too by landing the plane in the Hudson. He was there! He felt it! He knew what he had to do in order to save those lives! He remembered his past experiences while flying, even with the Air Force. I think that's what helped him save the lives of all the people on board, including himself. 

This movie is now playing at the time of this blog post. If you're reading this post in the future, then I suggest you go see it or get it on DVD/Blu-Ray or Digital! Thanks for reading!