Captain Phillips is based on the true story of the 2009 hijacking of the US-flagged MV Maersk Alabama by Somali pirates. It was captained by Captain Richard Phillips.
When the pirates shout and talk among themselves and with Captain Richard Phillips (Tom Hanks), one can feel as if one were right there in the middle of all the action. The camera work is amazing. The shaky camera shots give a sense of actually being witness to the proceedings.
The movie also shows the viewer the Somali point of view. It shows how poor people are forced to become pirates in order to provide a better living for their families. It is not choice but compulsion. However, not at any point throughout the movie does one feel any sympathy for the hostage takers. The viewer is always on Captain Richard Phillips’ side and wants to see him safely though this hostage situation.
The background score is apt and builds up the tension. You sit at the edge of your seat wondering what is going to happen next, although you know that at the end Captain Richard Phillips is going to get out of this mess unharmed.
The first half of the movie is a little drawn out and can put one off if patience is slender. However, the last half hour of the movie more than makes up for this. It is racy and things happen very fast.
This is another fine performance from Tom Hanks to his already admirable bank of work. He is always thinking how to fix the crisis situation, even when there is nothing much that he can do. The leader of the pirates, Muse (Barkhad Abdi) has given a credible performance. He is shown as being always optimistic even when the odds are stacked heavily in favor of the opposition.
The hostage situation is deftly handled by the director. The negotiations that are shown in the movie blend well with the entire hostage situation. Paul Greengrass has done a fine job and it shows in the way the movie flows smoothly without any major bumps.
As it is based on real events it adds to the credibility of the movie. This is a recommended movie for those who like to watch movies based on true events and are fascinated by history repeating itself on the big screen.
What do you think?