Tom Hanks plays the titular Captain Phillips – a man who had to endure an incident involving Somali Pirates in a film based on real-life events. Review after the jump.
Due to movies such as United 93, The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum, Paul Greengrass is fast becoming the go-to guy for great tension filled action dramas. With Captain Phillips, that status is now fully cemented.
Tom Hanks plays the Captain who, during a routine merchant delivery, ends up in an international incident when some Somali pirates hijack his ship and take him and some of his crew hostage. Phillips then uses many smarts in an attempt to outwit the Somalians and keep the remaining crew safe.
Tom Hanks and co are ready to dock at the Oscars early next year.
Lensed using a shoulder cam by cinematographer Barry Ackroyd, Captain Phillips has a documentary feel, much like last year’s Oscar nominee Zero Dark Thirty and it works beautifully. By using such technique, we the audience feel we are on the ship alongside the crew. Captain Phillips also, like Katherine Bigelow’s Osama Bin Laden movie, heavily features the Navy Seals as they come to the rescue using a balance of technology, bravery and brilliance.
Hanks already has two Academy Awards in his collection for Forrest Gump and Philadelphia respectively. Do not be surprised if he gets at least another nomination for his performance here. He plays the main role with great skill, especially during the end scenes.
Don’t get us wrong though, this is not a one-man show. The cast all do fantastic jobs, especially Barkhad Abdi as the leader of the Somali pirates – Muse. This film marks Abdi’s debut and he his performance is so strong you’d be mistaken for thinking he was an award-winning veteran in his own right.
Overall Thoughts:
Captain Phillips is full of tense moments and brilliant performances. Tom Hanks and co are ready to dock at the Oscars early next year.
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