The story goes as follows: It is April 2009, and a United States cargo ship, the Maersk Alabama, is on its way around the horn of Africa. As it is passing through the Somali Basin, the captain and his crew find themselves pursued by four Somali pirates. When they realize they are unable to hijack the ship, the pirates instead take the captain hostage aboard a small lifeboat, where they soon are hunted by the full strength of the U.S. Navy. The captain, meanwhile, finds himself fighting for his life.
Immersing himself in the role of the title character is Tom Hanks, who does a spectacular job at recreating the everyman that is Captain Richard Phillips and forces us to become increasingly invested in the character as we follow the course of events. Hanks’ performance is complemented by that of Barkhad Abdi as Phillips’ captor, the Somali pirate Muse. Abdi portrays a man who is governed by both greed and pride who eventually suffers the consequences of the two. Abdi’s performance effectively gives the audience a glimpse at Muse’s desperation, just as Hanks’ performance allows us to see and understand Phillips’ fear. The two actors play off each other to create very real and intense situations throughout the movie.Director Paul Greengrass does a truly expert job of constructing believable and highly emotional scenes throughout the film, both aboard the Maersk and inside the lifeboat. From his camera angles to his decision to include improvisational scenes aboard the navy ship, Greengrass brings the story of “Captain Phillips” to life in a way that is very tangible and emotional for the audience.
All in all, “Captain Phillips” is a well-put together movie that shares with its audience an event that, while recent, may not be so familiar to the public. It gives us a look at the dangers of something we never think about in our daily lives, and it introduces to us a man whose bravery and determination are above anything we could imagine.
Grade: B+
Rating & runtime: PG-13, 134 min.
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