Sully 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review

Warner's release of "Sully" on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray showcases an exceptional video presentation, taking full advantage of the film's original shooting formats and post-production processes. Sully was captured digitally using the state-of-the-art Arri Alexa 65 cameras at a resolution of 6.5K. The footage underwent finishing touches through a 4K Digital Intermediate (DI), ensuring viewers experience the movie at its native resolution, encoded with HEVC/H.265 and presented in the widescreen 2.39:1 aspect ratio. This masterful treatment is supplemented by HDR color grading, providing an expanded color gamut and improved contrast levels that significantly enhance the visual experience. The resultant image clarity and detail fidelity are reference-quality, showcasing fine textures and intricate details with remarkable precision. The cooler, wintertime color palette is faithfully reproduced, adding to the film's atmospheric realism.

Comparing the 4K UHD Blu-ray to its 1080p counterpart reveals a noticeable uptick in image definition; fine details, especially in close-ups and textures like skin, clothing, and environmental surfaces, are more discernible and lifelike. The presentation benefits from HDR's nuanced handling of light and shadow, enriching scenes with deep blacks and sparkling highlights without sacrificing detail. Such technical prowess is evident in sequences ranging from the intense daylight illumination of New York's skyline to the moody interiors of aircraft cockpits. The film's realistic setting allows these enhancements to truly shine, presenting a viewing experience that is as close to looking through a window as one can get with current home theater technology.

Viewers will appreciate the meticulous attention to depth and color reproduction. The 4K disc allows for a layered visual field that gives interiors and wide shots an impressive sense of dimensionality. Colors, while not overly vivid, are strong and natural, contributing to the overall lifelike quality of the image. Black levels are excellently managed, showcasing variations without losing detail in darker scenes. This depth of quality extends to human features as well, with skin tones rendered with remarkable naturalism and texture detail. Put simply, "Sully" on 4K UHD is a testament to how far home video technology has come, offering an experience that not only outshines its Blu-ray counterpart but also sets a high standard for visual fidelity on home media.

The Dolby TrueHD and Atmos soundtracks of "Sully" on 4K UHD Blu-ray exhibit an exemplary demonstration of audio mastery, adeptly balancing subtlety with intense, immersive experiences. The tracks take full advantage of the surround sound system, making extensive use of ambient sounds and realistic audio cues to create a detailed audio landscape. From the terrifying moments of the crash to the quieter, tension-filled scenes in hotel rooms and investigation offices, every environment is brought to life with remarkable clarity and depth. Bass levels are robust and controlled, especially during the flight sequences, adding a palpable sense of danger and intensity that complements the film's visual storytelling. Dialogue remains crisp and front-centered, ensuring that every spoken word is heard clearly, despite the complex soundscape.

Listeners with a 7.1.4-channel Dolby Atmos setup are treated to a richly layered, object-based sound design that places them directly inside the story. The use of overhead speakers enhances the feeling of space and atmosphere, whether it be in the confined environment of the crashing plane or the more mundane settings like public hearings. This meticulous attention to detail extends to the quieter sequences as well, where subtle sound design elements add layers of realism and immersion. The low-frequency effects are applied with precision, lending weight to the plane's mechanical failures and environmental challenges, while never overpowering the dialogue or score.

The Atmos track particularly shines during the high-stakes moments of the film, offering a multi-dimensional auditory experience that places viewers squarely in the midst of the action. Surround sound presentation is expertly crafted, with accurate tracking of movement and environmental sounds that heighten the realism. From the impact of birds on the plane to the splashdown on the Hudson, each sequence is enhanced by a thoughtful balance of atmosphere and discrete sound effects, creating an enveloping and at times, frighteningly realistic listening experience. The mix achieves a perfect complement to the visual quality of the film, making "Sully's" 4K UHD Blu-ray release a reference-quality showcase of how sound design can elevate storytelling.

The extra features on the "Sully" 4K UHD Blu-ray are accessible through the included Full HD Blu-ray disc, offering a modest yet quality selection of behind-the-scenes content and personal insights into the real-life event. The set includes a noteworthy twenty-minute biography titled "Sully Sullenberger: The Man Behind the Miracle", providing intimate details of Captain Sullenberger's life with narrations and contributions from himself, his family, and co-pilot Jeff Skiles. "Moment by Moment: Averting Disaster on the Hudson" stands out as a poignant fifteen-minute feature where the real heroes relay their harrowing experience during the flight's critical moments, rightfully earning its praise as the most compelling piece in the collection. Another interesting addition is "Neck Deep in the Hudson: Shooting Sully", a twenty-minute making-of featurette that delves into the production aspects, enriched by interviews with key figures including Clint Eastwood, Tom Hanks, and Aaron Eckhart, offering viewers a well-rounded understanding of the effort to authentically portray this miraculous event. While the collection might not boast a vast quantity of extras, the quality and relevance of these featurettes offer valuable insights into both the event itself and the making of this remarkable film.

Extras included in this disc:

• Sully Sullenberger: The Man Behind the Miracle: A compelling narrative detailing the life and heroics of Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger.

• Moment by Moment: Averting Disaster on the Hudson: Captivating accounts from the real Captain Sully, First Officer Jeff Skiles, and air traffic controller Patrick Harten, detailing the emergency landing on the Hudson.

• Neck Deep in the Hudson: Shooting Sully: Behind-the-scenes look at the film's production, featuring insights from the cast and crew, including Clint Eastwood and Tom Hanks.

"Sully: The Miracle on the Hudson," directed by Clint Eastwood, delves into the extraordinary events of January 15th, 2009 when Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger successfully executed an emergency water landing of US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River following a bird strike that led to catastrophic engine failure. The film focuses not only on the incident itself, which lasted a mere 200 seconds, but also on the intense aftermath involving the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation that questioned Sullenberger's decision-making. Through a blend of subjective storytelling and some dramatic embellishments, particularly concerning the courtroom drama that amplifies the emotional stakes, Eastwood seeks to explore the human elements behind the heroic act, painting a portrait of the man behind the pilot—his instincts, acumen, and composed demeanor during crisis.

Tom Hanks delivers an immersive performance as Sully, anchoring the film with a portrayal that transcends the script's limitations, showcasing Sully’s heroism, humanity, and professional doubt under scrutiny. While Eastwood's direction has been critiqued for its straightforward and somewhat unengaging approach, lacking the kind of innovative storytelling one might expect from such a compelling true story, Hanks' portrayal alongside Aaron Eckhart's First Officer Jeffrey Skiles brings depth to the narrative. Despite criticisms of the film feeling somewhat perfunctory and lacking in dynamic tension outside of the landing sequence itself—which is admittedly rendered with impressive sound design—the ensemble cast, including commendable but underutilized talents such as Laura Linney and Aaron Eckhart, adds dimension to the tale of collective effort in crisis response.

Regrettably, Warner Brothers’ choice to only release Sully in a 2.39:1 aspect ratio on its 4K UHD Blu-ray has been a matter of contention among home cinema enthusiasts. The omission of the IMAX version, which features an expanded 1.9:1 aspect ratio providing more image detail especially beneficial for large-screen home setups, represents a missed opportunity to fully immerse viewers in the visual scope of this dramatic retelling. Despite these limitations and the narrative's occasional predictability, "Sully" remains a significant recounting of an awe-inspiring event—the quick and decisive actions of a crew that saved 155 lives, immortalized through Eastwood's lens albeit with its narrative and technical shortcomings.

Warner's release of "Sully" on 4K UHD Blu-ray brings a meticulously crafted visual and auditory experience to viewers, celebrating the extraordinary tale of Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger's emergency landing on the Hudson River. Enhanced by Clint Eastwood's direction, the film not only dives deep into the pivotal moments of the miraculous landing but also explores the intense investigation and emotional turmoil that followed. The movie's portrayal, enriched by Tom Hanks' compelling performance, offers an emotive tribute to human resilience and teamwork in crisis. The 4K UHD package itself is a testament to technical excellence, with the picture quality boasting a striking level of detail and realism, owing to its origins from a 4K digital intermediate. The audio presentation, featuring a dynamic Atmos track, complements the visual splendor with an immersive sonic experience that is both engaging and authentically terrifying.

The Blu-ray disc, while slightly overshadowed by its 4K counterpart, still stands out with exceptional quality that would satisfy viewers opting for 1080p resolution. Despite minor wishes for more extensive extras, including behind-the-scenes insights and commentaries from cast and crew, the existing supplementary materials provide a worthwhile glimpse into the making of this dramatic retelling. The potential for future editions to enhance this aspect further adds an anticipation of what could lie ahead for fans of the film.

In conclusion, "Sully" in its 4K UHD Blu-ray presentation is a triumph of visual and audio engineering, offering a definitive viewing experience of a film that masterfully captures a moment of contemporary history. Although it leans towards being a straightforward narrative, the stellar A/V quality, combined with the powerful performance by Hanks and supported by Eckhart, elevates this package to more than just a rental option; it's a valuable addition to any film enthusiast’s collection. Warner has indeed set a high standard, making "Sully" on 4K UHD an essential showcase for what home entertainment technology can achieve in enhancing cinematic storytelling.