Review - Captain Phillips (2013)

At the Theater - "Captain Phillips" - This based on true events film concerning the 2009 hijacking of an American cargo ship (the Maersk Alabama) by Somali pirates, is equally tense, interesting and frustrating. Tom Hanks gives a stellar performance as the titular Captain and the Docu-Drama/Thriller approach taken by Director Paul Greengrass (United 93) provides an air of authenticity, though that pesky shaky came (of which I've never been a fan) and a third act that alternates between being harrowing and tedious could put off some viewers. It's still very much worthwhile and comes recommended. 

The film opens by introducing two very different individuals in equally contrasting worlds- American family man and veteran seaman Capt. Richard Phillips as he prepares for his next command of twenty men aboard a massive cargo ship and then 19-year-old Somali "Muse" (Barkhad Abdi) as he volunteers to lead three other desperate men in speedboats aiming to land a large payday by hijacking whichever unfortunate ship crosses their path.

Several hours after an initial attempt at hijacking the Maersk Alabama fails, due to some quick thinking by it's Captain, a second attempt finds the attackers aboard the vessel and holding the Captain and a few other crewman at gunpoint.  The remaining crew members evade the four gunmen for some time in the vessel's engine room before eventually subduing the invader's leader.  A brief standoff between the ship's crew, now holding Muse captive, and the three armed gunman, still holding Phillips hostage, results in a stalemate. The film then switches from the enormous, labyrinthine cargo ship to the sweltering, claustrophobic confines of the emergency lifeboat as the four discouraged gunmen make off with Captain Phillips in a last ditch effort to land a sizable ransom.  Having already attracted the attention of the authorities, the remainder of the film concerns the standoff between the pirates and the U.S. Navy with Phillips looking for an avenue of escape.

The vast majority of this is intense, deadly serious and highly interesting material- it was an event that I was only topically aware of going in and found it fascinating to learn of the many procedures (some work, some fail) and factual-based ingenuity used in this particular ordeal.  Greengrass, an excellent script and a talented, game cast keep events well within the realm of logic and the danger level needle effectively buried in the red throughout- a few unsettling scenes had me squirming in my seat.

I'm comfortable in placing Hank's work here as Capt. Richard Phillips amongst his very best- this is an entirely realistic performance, never overplayed or feeling manufactured.  It's a commanding, yet terrified turn that's sure to garner plenty of the higher profile awards nominations and rightfully so.  Barkhad Abdi, making his feature film debut, puts in solid, memorable work as the face of Somali piracy.

Complaints:

The film concentrates on Captain Phillips and the four Somali pirates; apparently, there wasn't even one other crew member of the Maersk Alabama worth examining.  Don't expect much love given to the Navy Seals who brought the pirates down and there's zero coverage of Phillip's wife/family and the ordeal they may have been going through while the hijacking/kidnapping occurred.  I will admit to being pleased that the film humanizes the hijackers but never glorifies them.

I rarely peek at my watch during a viewing of a film in the theater, though I did during this movie's third act- I believe the narrative spins it wheels, albeit briefly, about midway through the segment where Phillips is taken hostage on the emergency lifeboat. It's an admitted nitpick, though a slight trimming of a few minutes here may have worked wonders for the narrative flow.  I have taken into consideration that perhaps Greengrass and the filmmakers have purposely intended this stretch of tedium as a means to unnerve.

Lastly, I understand how the shaky cam usage acts to promote a "being there" atmosphere, but imagine it being used in a film set in choppy seas aboard a lifeboat!  Take some dramamine before going in...

You'll find yourself shaking your heads at the idiotic reasoning behind why many Merchant Marine ships can't/don't harbor firearms (if you don't already know, that is- the film doesn't cover that issue)- in my opinion, it's wholly ridiculous that many crew members abroad can't defend themselves, or their valuable cargo, with anything more lethal than high-pressure fire hoses and signal flares against fully automatic rifles. Obviously, the preceding wasn't an issue I had with the film itself as opposed to the politics that led to the incident.  It frustrated the shit out of me.

Ultimately, Captain Phillips is a highly effective and largely entertaining event biopic in the vein of Director Greengrass's other based on a true story film, United 93- although I believe that 2006 cinematic account of the fateful flight on 9/11 is superior, the two films would make great companion pieces.  Without question, both offerings are leagues better than 2012's highly overrated Argo.  By all means, check it out if you're a fan of Hanks or if you have any interest in the subject matter. 

Highly Recommended

8.5 out of 10

Director: Paul Greengrass
Starring: Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi, Michael Chernus, Catherine Keener, Max Martini, David Warshofsky, Corey Johnson and Chris Mulkey
Running Time: 134 minutes
MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for sustained intense sequences of menace, some violence with bloody images, and for substance use