Captain Phillips (Oct. 11, 2013)
star. Tom Hanks and Barkhad Abdi
At first glance, Captain Phillips may appear to be little more than a vehicle for star Tom Hanks’ third Academy Award. In ways, this is true. But fortunately director Paul Greengrass delivers so much more, turning out one of the most thrilling films to be seen this year or this decade.
Tom Hanks pictured with the real-life Captain Richard Phillips (left).
Hanks’ role is that of the film’s titular character: Captain Richard Phillips, the tenacious commander of the large merchant ship that was overtaken by Somali pirates in April 2009. The movie begins with Phillips’ entrance onto the Maersk Alabama and departure for Kenya, then follows the ensuing events that arise when a band of four young pirates hijack the ship, search for the crew, and ultimately kidnap Phillips in a small lifeboat for several days, holding him hostage in hopes of receiving funds from the United States Navy.
The story of the Maersk Alabama’s seizing and Phillips’ capture is incredible. And what is equally astounding is director Greengrass and screenwriter Billy Ray’s ability to portray such an unbelievable historic event in a thoroughly engrossing and awe-inspiring way through the conventions of the action genre. But unlike so many contemporary action-thrillers that capitalize on the fantastic and imaginative – I’m talking here of robots, aliens, extreme forms of government corruption, etc. – Captain Phillips is a genuinely exhilarating, adrenaline-induced experience that is founded, and remains tethered, to historic truth and realistic depictions of maritime and hostage procedures.
Newcomer Barkhad Abdi plays Somali pirate ringleader Muse.
The ability to balance realism and thrilling suspense, which many might consider contradictory forces, is found largely in the film’s attention to detail, both physical and thematic, and through its exciting pacing. Its cinematography, rooted mainly in handheld/semi-docudrama form, and impressive editing create great tension in the dangerous events that befall the crew of the Maersk Alabama and Captain Phillips, specifically. It is the high-stakes acting, too, between Hanks and newcomer Barkhad Abdi, who plays ringleader Muse, that increases the film’s visceral intensity.
There are occasional moments within Captain Phillips when Hanks’ performance, in addition to slight pretensions in the film’s depiction of the story or dialogue, seems a bit vain or self-indulgent. However, these are largely forgotten at close, due to the remarkable and haunting last five minutes of the film. Without revealing too much, I will simply say that Hanks’ ability to depict genuine human shock and vulnerability in rawest form moved me to tears. His willingness and accomplishment in abandoning reservation and exploring intrinsic human emotion is quite literally stunning! And it is during this extreme that you realize how impressive the rest of his performance as the stalwart Captain Phillips truly is.
Tom Hanks is remarkable as real-life hero Captain Phillips!
Faults are somewhat difficult to find in this film, though I was very disappointed not to see what becomes of the rest of Phillips’ crew left aboard the Maersk Alabama after Phillips’ individual rescue, despite that we know they are relieved of any dangers by United States military before the film’s last act. It also seems that the story lulls slightly once the pirates have dragged Phillips along in the lifeboat, following the pitch-perfect build of all events surrounding the ship’s hijacking. This resolves, however, during the inevitably climatic resolution, which isn’t impeded upon by the fact that we already know the outcome. After all, the best suspense comes from knowing what will happen but failing to predict how it will unroll.
Lastly, like last year’s Best Picture-winner Argo (2012), Captain Phillips lacks in subtext, wholly concerned in excitement and emotional evolution. This makes for a very enjoyable and enthralling first screening, but subsequent viewings of the film are likely to be markedly less satisfying. Nevertheless, everything about Captain Phillips makes for memorable, visceral cinematic entertainment the first time around!
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